Super Bowl XLV is in the Books

Hey there.  I know, I know.  I'm late to the party.  The Super Bowl is now 3 days removed and I am just getting the chance to add my 2 cents to the whole thing.  The game itself was awesome, the halftime show was eh, and the commercials were simply hit or miss.  First the game:

The game was great.  I think that the NFL has had a nice 4 or 5 game string of awesome Super Bowls.  I believe they all were close in the end, they all had some sort of theatrics going on, and they all were decided by a single score.  This was no different.  The Steelers, even with their 3 turnovers, were in position to win the game in the 4th qtr.  Down by six point and possession of the ball, the script was written for Steelers QB Big Ben to march down the field and take the win.  But it wasn't to be.  Not this time.  Packers QB Aaron Rodgers played the best game of his life and earned himself the MVP and the Lambardi Trophy.  He can finally emerge from that huge Brett Favre shadow that has followed him ever since Favre left Green Bay.  Congrat to all your cheeseheads.  You guys deserve it.  Now, on to the entertainment.

Christina Aguilera botched the national anthem and the Black Eyed Peas are so outdated I'm extremely surprised they were chosen to play the half time show.  You would expect that Christina would practice the national anthem a billion times considering that this is the biggest of stages in all of sports.  She completely missed a line and added words to the song.  As for the Black Eyed Peas, I'm not the biggest of fan of theirs, but at least their light show was good and it was cool to see Slash on stage.  I feel as if the NFL has gotten the jitters when it comes to their shows and are playing it extremely conservative.  Ever since the "wardrobe malfunction" incident, the half time shows have not stood out like they used to.

As for the commercials, some companies got it right while others completely bombed.  I'm looking at you, Coke.  Really now?  Drink a Coke and you're dragon will start spewing fireworks?  What are you trying to say?  That was one stupid commercial and there was no appeal what so ever.  And considering that it was CGI, I'm sure it was a pricey mistake on your end.  One commercial that definitely got it right was the Volkswagon commercial featuring a young Darth Vader.  That one was awesome.  It was funny, intuitive, and all around fun.  Awesome job WV.  Awesome job.  Check out the commercial below.

All in all a good experience.  Can't complain about the product that the NFL has given us.  The game is as popular as it ever has and it has continued to produce awe inspiring performances.  Great job NFL!

On a side note, I want to give some thoughts on the whole thing being in Dallas.  There is no doubt that the stadium is awesome.  Top of the line, state of the art type stuffs.  However, Jerry Jones greed was a complete embarrassment to the league.  Jones wanted to break the NFL attendance record for the Super Bowl.  That records sits somewhere around 105,000 people.  Jones added extra seats to the stadium in an attempt to break it.  Sold the tickets and everything and then on game day, the fire marshall explained that they were not safe and had to be removed.  You know what that means?  That some 500 people or so were turned away from the game.  TURNED AWAY!  Can you believe that?!  You've just managed to get a ticket to the Super Bowl and have made travel arrangements, got a week off from work and what not only to be turned away at the gate.  What a HUGE black mark on what was an awesome day.  There was a letter that was handed out to those who were turned away but don't you think that letter would have served a purpose a few days before the game?  And even if they knew that they couldn't seat all ticket holders, they should have created an area where those that could not be seated could have hung out, watched the game, and still say that they were there.  The NFL tried to make it right by offering some $2500 to each ticket holder.  I just don't think that's enough.  In my opinion, that's just soul crushing.  Later!

What Will You be Eating While Watching the Big Game

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kenmore Live Studio. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there.  The Super Bowl is this weekend!  The unofficial American holiday of football fans everywhere.  Aside from the big game, fans everywhere will be hanging out with friends and enjoying their Super Bowl parties.  But what are you going to serve at the game?  This is not just any game where the standard chips and dip is going to cut it.  That's why I strongly suggest that you take a look at some of these Super Bowl Recipes to spice up your Super Bowl party.
Imagine that.  A Youtube channel specifically made to share some awesome recipes for the Super Bowl.  If you really want to impress your guests, I would strongly suggest to try out some of the dishes with the Green Bay or Pittsburg name attached to it.  After viewing some of the videos, I stumbled across Pittsburg Popcorn.  Check that out on the video below.

Another great dish that I stumbled upon is the Green Bay Mojo Shrimp Skewers.  These look so good.  Check that out.

You can't go wrong with any of the Super Bowl recipes that are shared.  It's all a matter of what theme you're going for and what tickles your fancy.  Be safe and have an awesome Super Bowl weekend.  Later!

The NFL is Coming Back to Los Angeles

Hey there.  It's been too long.  Way way too long.  The NFL announced this morning that a deal is in place for a new football stadium to be built in Los Angeles.  That can only mean one thing... THE NEFL IS BACK IN LA, BABY!  Here is a glimpse of what the stadium may look like:

The proposed deal is estimated to be worth approx. $700 Million over 30 years and AEG us at the helm of backing this thing up.  AEG is proving to be one of the powerhouses for Los Angeles.  They were involved in building the Staples Center and now they are involved in building what would be known as Farmers Field. 

Now this begs the question:  Are we getting a new franchise?  Or is an existing team coming in?  The Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers are extremely popular in the Los Angeles area.  I would even say that the fan base in Los Angeles is split 50/50 between those 2 teams.  Considering that those two franchises are close by, it wouldn't surprise me if one or both come to Los Angeles.  The Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars have also been in the running to come to Los Angeles so those are two more teams that would be considered.

I would love for the Raiders to come back to Los Angeles.  Being a fan, I would love to not be have to drive for hours to catch them in San Diego or fly to Oakland.  It's exciting that the NFL is coming back to Los Angeles.  Now, we're in suspense as to which team will have the label, Los Angeles, in front of it.  Later!

Motivational Monday - Jay Cutler

Jay, you are a QB playing in the NFC championship game!  If you can walk, you should be able to play!

What a Way to Kick Off the 2010-2011 NFL Playoffs

Hey there.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  For all non football fans out there, this Saturday was the beginning of the NFL playoffs.  Where games matter more and the losses stay with you until next year.  This Saturday's lineup included the Seattle Seahawks vs. the New Orleans Saints followed by The Indianapolis Colts vs. the New York Jets.  Being a fan, you'd figure that the Saints will roll over the 'Hawks, since the 'Hawks  being the only team in history to enter the playoffs with a record below .500.  Man.. that was not the case.

Simply put, the game was freakin' awesome.  Everything you want in a football game.  High scoring, hard impact, 4th qtr drama and it was all capped off by this killer run by Marshawn Lynch that has everyone who watched it say, "WOW!". To everyone's surprise, the "lowly" Seahawks came up and defeated the defending Super Bowl champs.  Brees had his chance to bring the team back but the unsuccessful onside kick sealed their fate.  If you missed this game, you MUST watch it when the NFL Network replays it sometime this week.

The Colts vs the Jets game was just as good.  The poster boy on NFL QBs, Peyton Manning, is set off to make another run to the Super Bowl against the loudmouth Jets.  Classic stuff.  And after what seemed to be the game winning 50 yard field goal by K Adam "I don't miss big kicks in play off games" Vinitieri, Jets QB Mark Sanchez came up big by setting his team up for an easy field goal for the win.  All in all, an awesome set of games to usher in the playoffs!

Sunday morning featured the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Baltimore Ravens.  I'll admit that I was rooting for the Chief's to lose.  In my opinion, Oakland should have been in their place, but the Raiders screwed up their chance to represent the AFC West.  Anyways, The Ravens just destroyed the Chiefs, and just to throw salt into the wound of Oakland fans everywhere... the dreaded "tuck rule" made an appearance in the game.  Bitter or not, that tuck rule is a stupid rule and it should be changed or completely scratched out of the NFL rule book.  I'm just saying.

The afternoon game featured the game of the weekend, The Green Bay Packers vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.  The felon turned savior, Michael Vick vs back up to Mr. Favre turned uprising star, Aaron Rodgers.  This game had classic written all over it and even though it wasn't a high scoring game like the Seahawks/Saints game, this one was still decided in the 4th qtr in the final minute of the game.  QB Vick had the Eagles at the 27 yard line with seconds to go and he was looking for the win when his pass was intercepted in the end zone.  Awesome, awesome game.

In all honesty, I don't remember a better Wild Card weekend in the NFL.  The games were exciting (except the Chief/Ravens game) and they all had their big play moments.  If you are an NFL fan you have to be happy with the games this weekend.  And wow... I'm still thinking about that Marshawn Lynch run!  Here's a video of the play that I found online.  The run looked so much like it came from a video game that someone decided to add Tecmo Super Bowl sounds to it!  Freakin' awesome!  I know for a fact that all football fans everywhere simultaneously said, "UUUHHHH!  GET OFF ME!!!!" at the .13 second mark of this video.  If you didn't, you are not a fan.  lol  Enjoy.  Later!

Auburn Takes on Oregon

Contribution by Prince Raymond

If you love college football than you are probably looking forward to the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game that is coming up in a few weeks. The Auburn Tigers are taking on the Oregon ducks and it should turn out to be an offensive showcase. Both of these teams have some of the highest scoring offenses in all of college football. They also both have some of the most dynamic athletes. Cam Newton is the Heisman Trophy winner and promises to always put a show and put up points on the board. LaMichael James for Oregon is also the top running back in the country and should prove a tough test for Auburn's defense.

I got my tickets to go to this game weeks ago and decided to take my friend George. We both said goodbye to our wives, switched on our home alarm systems from ALL HOME SECURITY, packed out bags and boarded the plane for sunny Glendale Arizona got the national championship. The game should be really exciting because it is the premiere game of the college football season. All of the hype and trash talk leads up to this point. This game will decide the best team in college football and George and I will be there to see who wins it!

Glendale Arizona should be a perfect place to host a national championship because the weather should be perfect and the city of Glendale has something to offer almost anyone.

Penis Pictures: Are they Flattering?

Great football legend?  Or biggest d**k ever?

Hey there. There has been much talk about Brett Favre in regards to pictures that he allegedly sent to a Jets "game day host." Now, these were no ordinary pictures. They were of his penis. Now... for those of you that don't know, Brett Favre is considered a legend in football circles everywhere. The man has played the game for 20 some odd years and he's considered a man's man. It's hard not to root for him when he plays the game by his rules and by his own style. So, when something like this surfaces, does it tarnish his reputation? Or do we just look the other way and see how it all plays out? The NFL commissioner is conducting an investigation but it begs to ask the question on how meaningful the investigation will be.

Victim? Or pathological liar?

First off, the woman claiming the sexual harassment claims that it happened back in 2008. Now... I have a problem with this. Let's say Favre did send her his "magic stick" in the form of picture messages. Why didn't she say something then and there? Why wait 2 years to pass by before anything is mentioned? If the woman really felt harassed in any way, wouldn't she have brought it to somebody, anybody's attention? Did the woman admire what she got and then someone told her that she should say something?  Was a penis picture not that a big a deal to her that she simply kept the picture and placed in on the backburner for later viewing pleasure?  Or did she keep the picture and decided that one day, when she's done messing with Favre, she'll burn him by claiming she was appalled by the unflattering picture?   There's a lot of gray areas in this case.

Then there's Brett Favre. Now, the man is not really known for doing anything of this sort. Especially since he's been married to high school sweetheart (I think) since forever. He's been known to pop more than a few pain killers but he's no Big Ben. His past is not littered with sexual encounters of any kind and it's tough to say that he did this act.

Sexiest reporter ever?

If Brett Favre is found guilty, the man is an idiot. If he's not, it's going to raise questions on whether or not female "game day hosts" should be allowed in locker rooms and what not. We've already had allegations against the Jets (is there a pattern here?) where a female reporter claims that the Jets team harassed her with cat calling and the like. This is a sticky situation and all allegations should be taken seriously, but how much credibility can be given to these women when one of them flaunts the title of "sexiest sports reporter" and the other decides to wait 2 years before deciding that she's offended? Tough case, commissioner Goodell. Good luck. Later!

What a Weekend...

Hey there.  Oh man...  What a weekend it has been.  I haven't really had much of a chance to rest during the weekend since I've pretty much dedicated that time to prep for my son's first birthday.  We're going with a Super Mario Bros. theme and since it's difficult (and expensive) to buy licensed Mario stuff, the wife and I have been pretty much created all the decorations ourselves.  We've already spent a lot of hours getting them done and we're in the last week before the party and we're still not done!!!  Here goes the breakdown of our weekend...

SATURDAY

So Saturday rolls around and we're up and ready to go.  We figured that we could avoid traffic and what not if we head on over to downtown LA to check out the vendors there that sell party supplies and piñatas.  We got a tip from my compadre that there is a "party district" there and they have all kinds of stuff.  He was certain that we would find it there.  So 10 am rolls around and we're almost ready to go when I hear children scream, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! OH NOOOOOOOOO!!!!  DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!"

So I get up and run outside, thinking that one of the neighbor kids is hurt or something is wrong.  There is a lot of commotion on their side of the fence so I go around and end up in their yard.  I see my dog, Lucy, and their dog, fighting.  Now...  Lucy is small dog.  She's what you would call a Chihuahua Terrier.  No more than a foot tall.  The neighbor's dog?  Well... she's a Pitbull.  Yup.  Lucy got into it with a pitbull and instead of her saying, "Oh crap this is a monstrous dog, I don't have a chance!", she's up all in the business snapping and biting back.  The neighbor get's his dog's attention long enough for me to yell at Lucy.  Lucy then trots of in my direction, looking like a bloody mess.  I apologize profusely to the neighbor for Lucy getting into his yard and he dismissed it as Lucy just doing what she's born to do. We have this issue where Lucy and Lacy (both chihuahua terriers) dig under the fence and venture into their yard.  They don't mind, since they're good dogs.  They don't destroy anything and they play with the neighbor kids.  The neighbor explained to me that Lucy was trying to get under the fence and when he saw her, he helped her over.  That's when Lucy saw his dog (which was in heat) and they started getting into it with each other.

So I go back into my yard to check up on Lucy.  She's bloody, but I don't see blood pouring out of her.  She does have a 1cm hole in her face.  I could literally see inside her face and that's when I decided that she can't stay outside.  She could get that infected and what not.  I take her inside and start looking up vets.  Considering that it's a Saturday, I wasn't expecting to find any open.  I called a few "emergency vets" and was told that her wound was not considered an emergency since it wasn't life threatening and was given instructions on how to care for her at home.  So I go off into the drugstore and buy a bandage wrap, some gauze, closure strips and some peroxide.  I clean her up as best as I could and get to work.  I cleaned out the wound, closed it, and wrapped it up.  She's looking a little funny, but at least she's on her way to recovery.  Check out the pic I took of her, looking like, well... she just got off a fight with a pitbull.

Lucy... Looking like Rocky Balboa. Hopefully, she'll learn to stop picking fights with pitbulls.

 

I've been addressing her wound and changing the wrap every day.  Last night, the gash finally closed but I do not feel comfortable enough to let her roam around without the wrap.  Hopefully, I can remove it in another day or so because I need to clean her up some more.  She's beginning to smell funky and since she's inside the house, I need to make sure she's as clean as possible.

That incident took up all of our Saturday morning and most of the early afternoon.  We were finally able to venture into this party district to look for what we needed.  We scored on some awesome Mario and Luigi piñatas.  We also got some Mario and Luigi piggy banks and some candy to fill the piñatas with.  Being in the Mario mood, the night was capped off with some Mario Galaxy for the the Wii.

SUNDAY

Football!!!  I told myself that today would be the day where I would just sit in front of the TV and make decorations while watching TV.  I did a lot of decorations, not so much TV.  Football games were on TV, but I didn't really glance up since I got into my creations.  The Raiders lost...  losers!  And I did see Vick get hurt.  Other than that, I got most of my info from ESPN highlights later that evening.  Decoration making didn't end til close to midnight...  and soon after disaster struck...

MONDAY

After making decorations, I took a shower a little after midnight.  I noticed something funny going on while in there.  The water was not going down the drain... hmmm...  I finish up and let the wife know what happened.  She then mentioned to me that there is something up with the toilet, to make sure I take a look at it before I go to bed.  I check it out... and notice right away that it's not flushing.  I pull out the trusty plunger and get to it.  After several unsuccessful tries...  I figure that maybe there's hair stuck in the shower drain and it's stopping the toilet from flushing.  So I start working on that.  No success.... after about 30 mins or so, and it being around 1 am, I decide to go to bed and I'll work on it tomorrow.  Before jumping into the bed, I head to the kitchen to get a midnight snack... cause that's how I roll.  lol  

"SPLASH...  SPLASH... SPLASH..."  What the...  I took one step into the hallway and I step into a pool of water...  Oh man...  there's at least an inch deep of water all over the hallway.  Water EVERYWHERE!!!  I was feeling a dumbfounded and perplexed by what I was seeing and when the wife noticed it as well, she got up and was shocked by the amount of water all over the floor.  I go into the other bathroom thinking that maybe the tub was running or something and it smelled horrible.  But I mean HORRIBLE!!!!  Water was pouring out of the toilet, splashing flooding the bathroom.  The tub was also filling up with the water.  Water then ventured into the hallway and into my son's room and the main bedroom.  S*@T!!!!  The wife and I sit for a second, and then move into action.  

I pulled out my phone and took video of all the water in the bathrooms, tubs, showers, rooms, and hallway.  I figured that I would need evidence for the insurance company.  We pulled out all of the towels and started to soak up the water.  We didn't really know what the problem was so we figured that one of the kids may have flushed something down the toilet.  We didn't really know what the problem was...  So after about an hour or so of soaking up water and draining towels, we got the water to a respectable level...  Then... I made a huge mistake.  I threw in most of the towels into the washer.  Thinking that our problem was inside the house, I figured that we would need clean towels in case there was more leakage.  When the washer got the draining of the dirty water stage... all hell broke loose.  The bathrooms started to flood again.  This time, we only had HALF of the towels to battle what seemed like a never ending flow of water...  The good thing is that we acted fast enough to keep the water in the bathroom and no more spilled over to the hallway.  I then started draining the towels in the bathtub and reusing them to soak up water.

After about a half hour or so and the water level not really coming down... the wife made the comment that maybe I'm making it worse by throwing water into the tub.  She was right.  I should have been draining the towels outside like we first did...  By this time.. it's somewhere close to 3:30 am or 4 am and we're straining water out of towels in the front lawn.  After about another hour or so, we finally got it dry enough where there is no danger of anyone slipping.  I turned off the water valves in the sink and tub, in case the kids get up and turn the water on.  By the time we're satisfied that nothing else is going to down that morning, we go to be.  It was close to 5:45 am... by then, I already told myself I wasn't going to work.  I have a BIG problem that I need to take care of.

I get up at 6:45 and drive the girls to school.  I ask them if they threw anything down the toilet that they weren't supposed to and both said no.  I dropped them off, grabbed some coffee and then got to work.  Still believing that it may be something in our toilets, I looked up getting a plumber's snake.  I picked one up at Lowe's then went to work.  I went into the toilets and nothing.  I tried the sinks and nothing.  Showers?  Still nothing... I then said that I would need to get a pro to do it.  I started looking up plumbers in the area.  I also called my cousin, who does all the plumbing for the building that he is managing and ask for his opinion.  He quickly said that it sounds like the main drainage pipe is clogged.  He asked me to look for a 4 inch pipe outside the house.  I couldn't find it.  I said I would call him once I found it.  I then called Roter Rooter.  They sent a guy out to the house to check it out and give a free quote.  He found the access pipe and said, $200.  i was like, no thanks guy.  I already have someone that's going to get it done.  He leaves and I go at it with my 25 foot long snake.  Nothing... Damn... I needed something longer.  I go to Lowes and looking for a longer snake, but the longer ones are in the hundred...  

I decided to call a local plumber and got it done for a fraction of the cost.  He stuck in a 75 foot power snake and cleared my pipe (sounds funny.  lol)  and found that baby wipes were the culprit.  It was now, close to 2:30 pm and I started to text my insurance peoples to see what's up with that.  The damage is done in the hallway.  The laminate flooring that I installed is starting to warp.  The edges have risen and it's no longer smooth.  The carpet is still damp and I'm worried that mold might start up if I can't dry it up soon.  If it comes down to it, I'm going to need to replace the carpet as well as the flooring.  I'm hearing that my insurance should cover it...  Now I have that battle to look to forward to.  ugh.   Stay dry, friends.  Until then, later!

My Day as an Extra

Hey there.  I missed all the football games this Sunday.  All of them!  I wasn't anywhere near a TV because my son and I were off being extras in a Comedy Central show.  I received an Email requesting inviting me to take part as an extra and I pretty much said why not and took my son with me.  It was video game based so I figured that we would enjoy it.  There was a lot of sitting around, but we did manage to get some TV time.  My son was positioned right behind the speakers, as an audience member, so he should be seen on air and I was cast in a small role as a security guard!  Whoo hoo!  We were told that we cannot post pics or give away any info other than that so hopefully I'll be able to post more details once they've become public.  What I can say is that some of people responsible have their hands in other video game related shows such as The Guild.  I can't wait to see the episode on air!  It will be fun to see how much my son and I actually show up on the screen.  I'd also like to know how the episode plays out since we only heard  few lines here and there.  I'm sure it's going to be great.  Until then, later!

Motivational Monday - Field Goals

You know which white guy is NOT scoring?!?!  Raider kicker Sebastian Janikowski!!!!

NFL Heavy Metal Rankings: Week 3 2010

Hey there friends.  Week 2 continued on the same trend as week 1.  Some very good games (Saints - 49ners), more disappointing surprises (Vikings 0-2) and more injuries (Saints RB Bush broken leg).  Nevertheless, it was one great week of football!  Now, on to the rankings.

(2-0)

Prev. #2  The defending champs had a hard fought battle with the 49ners on a windy Monday night.  Though San Francisco looked formidable at times, the Saints gutted the stormed and marched down the field for a game winning field goal.  The win didn't come without a heavy blow.  Saints RB Reggie Bush is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken leg.  The next couple of weeks will be critical to the Saints Super Bowl run.  NEXT: FALCONS (1-1)

(2-0)

Prev. #1  Giving the Bills a beatdown doesn't surprise me.  Good teams are expected to beat inferior opponents.  We'll get a better understanding of how good this team is when they go up against divisional foe, Chicago.  We'll also see if the loss of RB Ryan Grant can be overcome by the running of RB Brandon Jackson.  NEXT:  @BEARS (2-0)

(2-0)

Prev. #5  Surprise, surprise!  The Texans are looking awesome under the play of QB Matt Schaub.  Being just 3 yards shy of 500 yards, QB Schaub came out on top in an overtime thriller with the QB Donovan McNabb lead Redskins.  Another win against a quality opponent will dictate that the Texans have indeed arrived.  NEXT: COWBOYS (0-2)

(2-0)

Prev. #-  Another big surprise comes in the form of the Steelers being 2-0.  The Steelers have relied heavily on their defense to keep them in games and ultimately win them.  No one envisioned this team winning more than a game without their star QB Ben Roethlisberger but a 3-0 start is very possible with a favorable matchup against Tampa Bay.    NEXT: @Buccaneers (2-0)

(1-1)

Prev. #6  Indy came out firing after their week 1 loss.  Indy QB Peyton Manning looked like his old self again while giving his younger brother a beat down he won't soon forget.  With a strong balance between passing, running, and defensive plays, the Colts have to be favored to be on top of the AFC South when it is all said and done.  Look for them to light up the Broncos and start a winning streak.  NEXT:  @DENVER (1-1)

(1-1)

Prev. #-  The Jets made a bold statement against the favored Pats.  Jets QB Mark Sanchez shined and stayed poised while under pressure.  The Jets defense completely shut down the Patriots offense, stifling Pats QB Tom Brady on many occasions.  Pats WR Randy Moss had no receptions in the second half, but that wasn't because he was on Revis Island.  CB Darrell Revis was injured in the game and is expected to miss at least a week.  NEXT @DOLPHINS (2-0)

(1-1)

Prev. #7  QB Tom Brady was channeling his inner Jim Mora during his press conference after the game.  After tearing his team a new one and claiming that they "sucked" it was clear that Tom was not a happy camper.  The offense could not move the ball in the second half and because of it, were held scoreless after scoring a quick 14 pts in the first half.  Look for them to bounce back with a vengeance against the lowly Bills.  NEXT: BILLS (0-2)

(1-1)

Prev. #3  The Ravens will be a formidable foe once QB Joe Flacco syncs with his offense.  The Raven defense has kept them in games and until the offense can find it's groove, expect for LB Ray Lewis to will his team to victories.  Look for Flacco to get his act together and light up the Browns for a couple of TDs in the Raven home opener.  NEXT: BROWNS (0-2)

(2-0)

Prev. #-  The Dolphins are beginning to look like a playoff team.  The defensive pass rush has been one to keep an eye on and if QB Chad Henne can develop some chemistry to WR Brandon Marshall, this offense can win games for the Dolphins down the stretch.  This week's game against the Jets will determine how good this Dolphin team can be.  NEXT: JETS (1-1)

THE RAIDERS:

(1-1)

Prev. #(28) This team is nowhere near the top 9... but they would be ranked 27th in my system. 

The Raiders took care of business in beating the Rams last week.  Though, they did it without the newly acquired QB Jason Campbell.  Campbell was taken out of the game at halftime and QB Bruce Gadkowski came in and gave the home crowd a show.  He did what Jason Campbell couldn't...  get first downs.  With the offensive line having issues, Bruce released the ball much quicker than Jason having successful completions to wide receivers.  The problem that Oakland faces now is who to start at QB.  The "next" Jim Plunkett, Jason Campbell or Bruce Gradkowski?  Accordingly to the Raiders, that determination will made later today.  Running the ball with RB Darren McFadden has also bolstered the rushing game.  The Oakland running game is 3rd in the league with 154 yards a game.  Many of those coming behind the strong legs of McFadden.  And with strong hands, he's also an easy target for the QB to throw some quick screens to.  NEXT: @CARDINALS (1-1)

Motivational Monday - The Raiders

At least Al Davis doesn't deal with the devil

NFL Heavy Metal Rankings: Week 2 2010

Hey there. I don't do a pre-week 1 rankings. I feel that you need to see the teams in action before you can place the teams in a ranking system. Sure, some were powerhouses last year, but with all the off season moves, you never know who might surprise you (AHEM... Kansas City... AHEM). So here is my top power rankings and a tidbit on my NFL team, the Oakland Raiders.

The Packers came up with a win against the Kolbless Eagles.  But QB Michael Vick wasn't going down without a fight.  Despite a valiant effort, the Eagles fell short the Packers came out on top.  QB Aaron Rodgers looked ordinary (2 TDs, 2 INTs) and we'll have to see how much of an impact the loss of RB Ryan Grant will affect the passing game.  NEXT: BILLS

The shootout with the Vikings never materialized as the offense for both teams seemed to struggle at times.  However, with the defense coming to play, and making the Viking QB Brett Favre look every bit of 40, the Saints pulled out the victory.  Look for them to start checking out kickers.  K Garrett Hartly missed two very makable kicks. NEXT: 49NERS

The Ravens definitely shut up the Jets with their defense.  The Ravens pressured Jets QB Mark Sanchez all game long and the defensive line dominated the front lines all game long.  QB Flacco has many weapons to work with.  It's only a matter of time before he's in sync with his receivers putting the Ravens back in Super Bowl contention. NEXT: @BENGALS

Is trouble brewing in Big D?  Coach Wade Philips better right this ship fast.  The offense only produced 7 points in a game where the Cowboys hurt themselves more than the Redskins beat them.  The Cowboys still have the talent, but if they cannot produce this year, the Cowboys will look for a new head coach.  NEXT: BEARS

Who is this Arian Foster kid?  He gashed the Colts defense for a staggering 231 yards and 3 TDs.  QB Matt Schaub didn't have to do much since the running game was astounding.  A big win over the Colts can pay huge dividends for young team and this may be the year where they may legitimately challenge the Colts for the AFC South crown. NEXT: @REDSKINS

QB Peyton Manning was Peyton Manning throwing for over 400 yards and 3 TDs, but the running game was nowhere to be found.  It takes a team to win in the NFL and he can't do it all by himself.  And now with the loss of S Bob Sanders, look for the Indy run defense to continue to struggle.  NEXT: GIANTS

Disarray in New England?  It didn't look like it.  With distractions abound (QB Brady car accident, WR Moss contract dispute) none of it was apparent on the field.  The cool and collected QB Tom Brady threw for 3 TDs, two to WR Wes Welker, as they brought the Bengals back to reality.  NEXT: @JETS

WR Sidney Rice was not playing, WR Percy Harvin, was not at 100% and QB Brett Favre not being at training definitely took a toll on the Viking offense.  QB Brett Favre was out of sync with all his receivers, with TE Visanthe Shiancoe being the exception.  Another week in practice will definitely help so look for them to bounce back this week.  NEXT: DOLPHINS

Charger coach Norv Turner has an awful record in September and that trend continued against the Chiefs.  The Chargers, having superior talent, had no business losing this game but give credit to the Chiefs defense. They stopped QB Philip Rivers 4 times at their goal line in the final minute of the game to prevent the tying score. NEXT: JAGUARS

THE RAIDERS:

If I were to do a full ranking list... the Raiders would be placed 28th out of 32 teams.  The team has the potential to leap from the cellar the AFC West but showed no improvement against the Titans.  They were gashed for over 200 yards rushing and looked horrid on offense.  Whether it be jitters or just bad play, the offense was confused and out of sync the whole game.  Raider QB Jason Campbell was on his ass most of the game and held the ball too long on most occasions.  The lone bright spot?  RB Darren McFadden was 5 yards shy of rushing for 100 yards and had another 55 yards receiving.  Look for the Raiders to finally get out of this funk against the Rams and have their offense be on the same page.  Their defense should be more than effective against the young Rams, who have 9 starting rookies on their team, including their shiny new QB Sam Bradford.  NEXT: RAMS

Motivational Monday - Age

Hey there.  I love the NFL!  I'm glad that it's back.  Look for my Heavy Metal Rankings to hit tomorrow, once the Monday night games have come to pass.  I used to do all 32 teams, but I'll be honest... It's tough to rank them all so I'll just do the top 9 (cause that's how I roll) and provide some personal thoughts on my Oakland Raiders (yeah, I'm serious).  lol  But boy, and I happy the NFL season started and some real good football has taken place!  And to start it all off was the Vikings vs the Saints on Thursday night.  I was excited to see a old fashion shoot out... What we got was an aging Brett Favre with no receivers and a Saints offense that were not quite in sync yet.  Except for a few plays here and there, Favre looked every bit of 40.  Still... I hope he does well this year, but it will be tough with out his top receivers!  So here's to you, old man Brett.  Good luck!

The Oakland Raiders QB Carousel

Hey there.  I don't usually write about football during the offseason.  It's just not the time or the place (in my opinion at least) but considering that the draft was a week or so ago and my team, the Raiders, made a few moves, I just had to let in on my thoughts.

First off, the Raiders selecting LB Rolando McClain is the best draft move in years!  After several disappointing or at least not yet productive draft picks, Al Davis finally went against picking a strong QB or a super fast WR in the first round and went with what the team needs, a tough LB to stand along side Seymour. 

Another thing that the Raiders did this offseason that raised a lot of eyebrows is their hoarding QBs.  As of right now, the Raiders have 5 QBs on their roster.  Former #1 draft pick, JaMarcus Russell has just not been what the Raiders hoped.  Al Davis selected this young man based on his arm strength alone.  Figuring that you only need someone to launch the ball down the field, the WRs would only need to run and go get it.  The "Al Davis" method, as I call it, just doesn't work.  We have all sorts of speedy receivers, but their hands are suspect.  We have a QB with a cannon arm, but doesn't have the agility or the smarts to play in the NFL.  He simply does not put in the work.  And considering that this man is getting paid millions and is failing... it's really hurting our chances in obtaining good free agents.

Now, I don't know if this is meant to scare Russell straight, but big news came in last week that the Raiders acquired QB Jason Campbell from the Redskins.  Campbell is not steller, but he gets the job done.  I strongly believe that he just wasn't a good fit for the Redskins.  Maybe he'll shine brighter now that's in the Silver and Black.  But why make a move for a QB knowing that you have Russell?  Not to mention his back up QBs Gradkowski and Frye.  And let's not forget the other QB that the Raiders acquired this offseason, QB Kyle Boller.

Why are we stocking up on QBs?  Conventional wisdom says that the Raiders are not happy with Russell and he's being replaced by Campbell.  The remaining 3 QBs will be playing for the 2 backup spots.  But now, I'm reading that owner Al Davis is not just ready to give up on Russell.  What the hell?!?!?!?

I love my team.  I'll stick with them through the Super Bowl years and through their top 10 draft selection years, but man... what the hell are you guys thinking?  We need to either cut our losses with Russell and focus on getting our team in place or get help in the Offensive Line to continue to develop Russell.  If we cut Russell, I really don't see him playing in the NFL after only 3 short years.  He's displayed some talent, but his inability to focus, to prepare, and quite frankly care about his job is detrimental to the Raiders and will more than likely be a cancer for other NFL teams as well.  What we need to do is start Campbell and have him get acquainted with the receivers.  He's glad to be a Raider.  He's glad that we went out and asked for his services.  You don't think that he'll want to succeed considering that he was in a QB controversy in Washington with QB Tavaris Jackson and new Redskin Donovan McNabb and we, the Raiders, went out there and asked him to join our team?  Play the man that wants to play.  He'll be ready, he'll be focused, and I'm sure he'll be a hell of a lot more productive than Russell has been. 

I'm sorry Russell, but my faith in you is gone.  You've had more than enough opportunities to be the one to lift the Raiders from this slump and you just have not put the effort or the heart in your position.  You've showed up to camp out of shape and unprepared and it all started to go downhill since the day you held out of your first camp to get more money, which wasn't even day 1 for you.  At this point, don't be surprised if you start being compared to Ryan Leaf.  Yeah, Russell, that bad.  best of luck to you.  Later!

7 - Eleven Introduces "Game Day" Beer

Hey there.  Would you buy a 12 pack of beer for $6.99 to $8.99?  Sounds like steal to me.  Especially when many of us are still pinching pennies and making sure we don't spend a fortune on unnecessary stuffs.  But when a game is on and you're buddies are over, how can you not have beer?  And where do you usually go for a beer run?  If you're like me, I hit the closet thing and it's usually a 7-Eleven.  You find those suckers everywhere and it's better than hitting a market since you'll avoid those long lines.  7-Eleven knows this and has now tapped into the beer market with their own brand of beer, Game Day Beer.

This is smart.  7_Eleven knows it's customers and it's a fairly well known beer run spot.  So once you're there and you see a 12 pack of beer for about $8, how can you not go, "Screw it, let's give this a go."  I know for a fact that I'll be giving it a try once the 7-Eleven by my house starts carrying it.  Why not?  Everything is worth a shot.  Whether or not this is success is left to be seen and if you're like me, you're going to want to make sure that it tastes good too.  Considering that it's being made by one of Wisconsin's oldest breweries gives some reputation and credence to the new kid on the block, but whether or not it can tap into Bud's and Miller's customers will tell if this beer will be even remotely successful.

One a side note, I love the name of it.  Game Day Beer.  Great marketing there.  Most people are not lone drinkers and drink beer only during certain social events, like a football, basketball, or baseball game.  This beer clearly is aimed at those customers and quite frankly, is pure genius.  

Where Did Metallman Go???

Hey there. I'm so so sorry that I haven't had a post in about 2 weeks. I'll be honest, I've gotten to the point where I opened up a new post, but no words were written. Canceled the post and figured that I would do it later. It just never happened. I still owe my readers cash and credits to the top blogs of the month and top commentators of the month. I just haven't gotten around to it. I also have some pizza coupons that I will be giving away soon so make sure that you stay tuned for that.

Work has been hectic, my cousin was in and out of the hospital due to a mental condition, which I have checked in on, I have now become a Lost addict (I know I'm about 6 years late to the party) and our son's birthday was this week. So there have been topics available for posting, it's just that for whatever reason, my fingers refused to write them down. Well, I guess that funk is over. We got the Motivational Sunday coming back tomorrow, as well as the Super Bowl! Valentines Day is on it's way and today, we're off to John's Incredible Pizza for our son's B Day celebration. Nothing big, but a place where I know he'll have fun. I'll make sure to keep you guys more filled in than I have in the last few weeks.

My son just got up. I'm helping around the house so it's my time to feed the baby. I'll catch you guys later!

Heavy Metal Rankings NFL Week 4 2009

Hey there friends. Injuries is the name of the game for week 3 of the NFL. Key injuries to some teams may hinder their chances for playoff hopes or simply guide them to throw in the towel early. Chad Pennington, Frank Gore, Marion Barber to name a few of the key players who are out. Let's take a look at the rankings.

1. New Orleans Saints 3-0 (prev. #1)

QB Drew Brees continues to fire it up while taking care of the Buffalo Bills last week. He didn't do it alone though. RB Pierre Thomas came back and ran over the Bills to the tune of 120+ yards and 2 TDs. If the running game continues to be as explosive as the passing game, I don't see anyone in the league outscoring the Saints. Next: New York Jets

2. New York Giants 3-0 (prev. #3)

QB Eli Manning made it look easy against the pathetic Tampa Bay Bucs. A swarming defense and a smooth offense simply was too much for the Bucs to handle. They should continue to roll with another cake walk game against the Chiefs. Next: @Kansas City Chiefs

3. Minnesota Vikings 3-0 (prev. #4)

QB Brett Favre shows the world that his arm still has some of that magic left. After trailing the impressive looking 49ners, Brett Favre relied on his arm to lead his team to a victory with 2 seconds left in the clock. As cliche as it may sound, it never gets old to see a last second TD for the win. Will Brett need to rely on his magic against his old team? Next: Green Bay Packers

4. New England Patriots 2-1 (prev. #8)

The New England defense must have been tired of people calling them done because they showed up to play against an up and coming Atlanta offense. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan had no answers for the stout defense as they held Atlanta to a mere 10 points. If QB Tom Brady can take care of the Baltimore defense this week, then we can proclaim that Tom is back to top form. Next: Baltimore Ravens

5. Baltimore Ravens 3-0 (prev. #9)

Baltimore is looking like a team to beat in the NFL. The only reason they're not ranked higher is because they need to play a formidable offense (sorry KC and Cleveland, you guys don't count). The next coming weeks have them against New England and Cincy. We will be able to better gauge this team once we see how well the defense plays. Next. @New England Patriots.

6. New York Jets 3-0 (prev. #6)

QB Mark Sanchez continues to impress as he's avoiding the costly mistakes and leading the Jets into their third straight victory. The Titans were desperate for a win and the Titan defense definitely keep them at bay. If the jets can pull out a victory over the red hot Saints, heads will turn. Next: @New Orleans Saints

7. Indianapolis Colts 3-0 (prev. unranked)

The Colts had some shaky moments this season and the fact that they only had the ball for under a quarter 2 weeks ago was cause for concern for the defense. Indy QB Peyton Manning put the team on his back, now that DL Dwight Freeney is injured. He threw for 4 TDs as he dispelled the Cardinals. Next: Seattle Seahawks

8. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2 (prev. #5)

The Steelers are beginning to worry me. Steeler QB Big Ben is good enough to win games on his own (week 1) yet the Steelers are staring at a 1-2 record. Without their star defensive player Troy, the Steeler defense is average, at best. It won't get any easier with the Chargers coming up next. Next: San Diego Chargers

9. Atlanta Falcons 2-1 (prev. #2)

Atlanta was humbled by the Patriots. What we learned from that game is that if QB Matt Ryan cannot connect with TE Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons are in trouble. Look for teams to follow suit and take away that weapon from Atlanta in the coming weeks. Next: Bye

My Oakland Raiders 1-2: The Raiders continue to disappoint. In a matchup against division rival, Denver, the Raiders put up little to no fight. Denver easily marched up and down the field with the Raider defense doing little to stop them. Raider QB JaMarcus Russell continues with his struggles with accuracy. Raider coach Tom Cable has stood by his QB and named him the starter in week 4 but if the bad play continues, we may see the young QB pulled in favor of the back up. WR Chaz Schilens is scheduled to return this week. Maybe he'll be the one to spark a fire to this lethargic offense. Next: @Houston Texans

Heavy Metal Rankings NFL Week 3 2009

Hey there. Another week of NFL football is now in the books and another week of great games have been witnessed. Dallas unveiled their new stadium, Philly showed what they can do without QB Mcnabb and Oakland took their slogan, "Just Win Baby" quite literally. On the the rankings.

#1 New Orleans Saints 2-0 (prev. #3)

Can anyone beat the Saints? QB Drew Brees continues to light up the score board, scoring almost 100 points in 2 games. The man is on pace to break all kinds of passing records if this offense continues to play in "god" mode. The Philly defense kept the Eagles close in the first half but they failed to show up in the second half while Drew Brees cut them up for 31 second half points. Next @Buffalo Bills

#2 Atlanta Falcons 2-0 (prev. #1)

QB Matt Ryan is feeling pretty good now that he has a go to receiver in TE Tony Gonzalez. He threw for over 200 yards and 3 scores against the Panthers, despite Carolina RB Cadillac Williams and WR Steve Smith had great games. @New England Patriots

#3 New York Giants 2-0 (prev. #8)

QB Eli Manning showed his worth to this team by doing something that Dallas QB Tony Romo has not, lead his team to a win in a big game. The Giants battled the Cowboys in the brand new Dallas stadium. Despite not have a go to receiver, Eli has found several receivers to pick up the slack. None more than up and coming WR Mario Manningham, picking up 150 yards and a score. @Tampa Bay Buccaneers

#4 Minnesota Vikings 2-0 (prev. #6)

The gunslinger we all know and love may be no more as Minnesota QB Brett Favre continues to step aside to the RB Adrian Peterson show. The problem with the Vikings is that they are starting games slowly, letting the Lions have a halftime lead before putting them to sleep in the second half. Next: San Francisco 49ers

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers 1-1 (prev. #5)

The Steeler running game is beginning to worry me. Despite them losing to the Bears, they could have come up with the win if not for missed field goals by K Jeff Reed, they could have come up with a win against a hot red Chicago QB in Jay Cutler. Next: @Cincinnati Bengals

#6 New York Jets 2-0 (prev. unranked)

Young Jets QB Mark Sanchez is looking like a season veteran, outplaying the Patriots QB Tom Brady. He may not have had impressive numbers but he managed the game well and relied on a balance passing and running attack to take down the mighty Patriots. Next: Tennessee Titans

#7 Philadelphia Eagles 1-1 (prev. #2)

Second string QB Kevin Kolb had himself a great game, throwing close to 400 yards and 2 TDs. The problem? He was up against the QB Drew Brees and the Saints. The Saints defense allowed the Eagles to stay in the game but once Drew got going, they simply blew the Eagles out of the sky. Next: Kansas City

#8 New England Patriots 1-1 (prev. #4)

Is it time to panic in New England? The Patriots did not have an answer to the Jets offense. QB Tom Brady looked confused and fluttered and did not look like anything of the cool and collected QB of Super Bowls past. The defense has definitely suffered this year and if the offense cannot bail them out, the Pats will have a mediocre season at best. Next: Atlanta Falcons

#9 Baltimore Ravens 2-0 (prev. unranked)

The Baltimore Ravens are relying more on QB Joe Flacco and the offense than their legendary defense. That doesn't mean that the defense doesn't have it's moment in the sun. With time running out, LB Ray Lewis tackles Charger RB Darren Sproles for a loss on 4th down to secure the victory for the Ravens. Next: Cleveland Browns

My Oakland Raiders 1-1 : What an ugly game for the Raiders. Negative 7 yards for the first quarter. Are you kidding me? Raider QB JaMarcus Russell simply looked awful. His accuracy seemed to diminish from the San Diego game. Against Kansas City, he throws for a little over 100 yards with about 70 of those coming on the final drive of the game. Quite frankly, the Raiders had no business winning this game. KC out played the Raiders and out gained them by over 200 yards. With all that, the Raiders came up with the victory. Al Davis preaches, "Just Win, Baby" and the Raiders definitely just won the game and did little of anything else. Next: Denver Broncos.

Heavy Metal Rankings Week 2 2009

Hey there. What a great weekend of football that was! We saw some pretty close games that were taken to the wire, we saw the return of Brett Favre and Tom Brady, and we got our first real glimpse of how the teams measure up to each other. I had the Pats in the top spot last week, but after seeing how their run defense is not up to par (maybe they miss Tedy more than they believed), I have to knock them down. Check it out.

1. Atlanta Falcons (prev. #4)

Altanta was the only team in my rankings that actually looked good last week. QB Matt Ryan and his new TE Tony Gonzalez are a forced to be reckoned with they showed the NFL world that there are here to play. Their defense isn't too shabby either, completely flustering the Dolphin defense. They should have no problem taking care of Carolina's Jake Delhomme and his horrible play. Next: Carolina Panthers

2. Philadelphia Eagles (prev. #8)

Philly looked great on offense. They seemed to imposed their will on the Panthers. The big question mark now is QB Donovan McNabb's cracked ribs. I don't see them beating the very potent New Orleans Saints this week. Next: New Orleans Saints

3. New Orleans Saints (prev. unranked)

Has anyone looked better in the pocket these last 2 seasons than QB Drew Brees? The man is on fire and he continues to light up the score board, torching the Lions for 350+ yards passing and 6 TD passes. Even with RB Pierre Thomas out for the game, RB Mike Bell stepped in and ran over the Lions to the tune of 140+ yards. Next: @Philadelphia Eagles

4. New England Patriots (prev. #1)

The Bills should have won the game against the Patriots if not for that costly fumble on the kick off return. QB Tom Brady is showing that his knee is working out great and he looks just as fearless as ever before, but without that stout defense of years past, Tom may be asked to carry this team, and then some. Next: @New York Jets

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (prev. #2)

QB Ben Roethlisberger put the Steelers on his shoulders and willed them to a victory last week in a tight game against the Titans. In a game where field position was key, the running game was a liability for the Steelers (only 30 or so yards for the game!). You don't win many games when your team rushes for less than 40 yards a game. Next: @Chicago Bears

6. Minnesota Vikings (prev. unranked)

QB Brett Favre makes his debut... and manages the game??? That's right. This is not Brett Favre's team and more RB Adrian Peterson's team. The RB ran for an astounding 180+ yards against the Jets to ease Brett's transition. If Adrian continues to run at this pace, he will shatter the 2000 yard mark! Look for him to have another incredible game against the lowly Lions. Next: @Detroit Lions.

7. Tennessee Titans (prev. #3)

The Titans matched up well against the defending champs and nearly came away with the victory. The defense looked great, despite the departure of Albert Haynesworth, and held the Steelers to 1 TD for the game. Next: Houston Texans

8. New York Giants (prev. #9)

The lack of a go to wide receiver for QB Eli Manning was apparent against the Redskins. Eli passed the ball to several receivers but when they needed the speed and strength of Plaxico Burress, the Giants fell short. The return of DE Osi Umenyiora is a huge boost to this defense. The defense came up with 3 sacks, and interception, and 2 forced fumbles. That defense will need to be in top shape now that they'll be traveling to Dallas. Next: @Dallas Cowboys

9. Green Bay Packers (prev. unranked)

The Pack was in a defensive battle with the Chicago Bears on Monday night, with the Pack just edging out the Bears. I don't know if that bodes well for the Packers, a team with Super Bowl dreams. Chicago QB Jake Cutler threw 4 interceptions and despite that, the Packers were behind in the fourth quarter. If not for the blown coverage by the Bears and a great pass to WR Greg Jennings in the final minutes of the game, the Pack could very well be down 0-1 in their division.

My Oakland Raiders: What a game against the San Diego Chargers! This was a definitely a game of two halves. The Raiders simply beat up on the Chargers in the first half. They ran all over their defense and RB Darren McFadden and RB Micheal Bush gashed them and drove down the field. The defense was just a good as the running game, with newly acquired DE Richard Seymour making an immediate impact in the game, recording 2 sacks and assisting in many tackles. The passing game is what hurt the Raiders. QB JaMarcus Russell is still having issues with accuracy. He over threw many passes and to wide open receivers too. The only bright spot in the passing game continues to be the Raider's TE Zack Miller. He had 96 yards receiving, coming up huge on several third down situations. That doesn't mean that the receivers didn't get theirs. WR Louis Murphy had 87 yards receiving and is developing to a go to receiver for Russell. Considering that the team believes that WR Chaz Schilens is their best receiver, the wide receiver corps may finally be coming of age. Next game: @Kansas City Cheif