This Week's Picks... Randomized

            This week, I'm going to randomize my picks. This year has been pretty subpar compared to previous years, so I'm going to have a little fun this week. Like the previous randomized picks, this is purely for fun and not to be taken seriously. Besides, anything can happen on Week 17 (or any football week, for that matter). The bottom two games are not randomized. Those are my actual picks. Here we go!!

• Jets over Bills
• Dolphins over Patriots
• Saints over Falcons
• Ravens over Bengals
• Steelers over Browns
• Texans over Jaguars
• Titans over Colts
• Redskins over Cowboys
• Eagles over Giants
• Bears over Lions
• Panthers over Bucs
• Raiders over Chiefs
• Chargers over Broncos
• Seahawks over Cardinals
• 49ers over Rams
• Packers over Vikings

#1 Clemson vs. #4 Oklahoma: The Sooner's offense doesn't just consist of Baker Mayfield (3,389 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, five interceptions). Samaje Perine (211 carries, 1,291 yards, 15 touchdowns) has been impressive during his tenure with Oklahoma. Also keep an eye on Sterling Shepard (79 receptions, 1,201 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns), Mayfield's top target. Plus, the Sooners look to avenge a 40-6 ass-whooping in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl at the hands of Clemson. Final Score: Oklahoma 38, Clemson 24

#2 Alabama vs. #3 Michigan State: This game will be a lot closer than you think. Alabama's offense revolves around Derrick Henry and Michigan State's biggest weakness is giving up the deep pass. However, the Spartans are ranked 7th in rushing yards allowed per game. This will be a close game prompted by a defensive standoff, probably coming down to the last field goal. But I have a feeling it'll be a 'Bama-Oklahoma final. Final Score: Alabama 23, Michigan State 20

Prowling Panthers

            The Carolina Panthers aren't the only "Panthers" in professional sports having a terrific season. The Atlanta Falcons might've ended their quest for perfection, but Carolina has their eyes set on the Super Bowl. Anyways, there's another Panthers team that has seen success early in their season and they're located in South Beach. In fact, they were in 1st place in the Atlantic division on Sunday. They are the Florida Panthers.
            The Florida Panthers are currently riding a six-game winning streak. During their current six-game winning streak, they've averaged 3.67 goals per game. That might not seem like much when compared to other sports, but it's quite an amount in hockey. If you want to go even further, the Panthers have won 12 of their last 15 games. Not bad for the other Panthers squad considering how mediocre their franchise history has been.
            Florida has gotten things done through the likes of being stagnant on allowing goals. They are ranked third in the NHL in goals allowed with 2.3 goals per game allowed. The goaltending tandem of Al Montoya (5-1-1, 1.79 GAA, .930 save %) and old Panther favorite Roberto Luongo (15-11-3, 2.20 GAA, .924 save %) has proven to be an effective duo for Florida. Jaromir Jagr has shown flashes of 1990s-2000s Jagr, leading the team with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).
            Florida's been plagued by relocation rumors for the longest time possible due to ownership issues and lack of attendance. Therefore, it might take time for South Beach residents to be convinced that there's a viable product on the ice (27th in average attendance this season with 13,286 fans per home game). They are in the same market as the Miami Heat, after all. But if the Panthers continue this type of success, then the Florida Panthers might be able to reel in the same type of success as their basketball brethren.

This Week's Picks (Steve Harvey Edition)

            Since we don't have any shows this week (Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!), we shall dust off the old blog and dish out some picks here. This week, I've put a spin on it and picked the games from a Steve Harvey perspective. Basically, it's not the pick that I'm going with (The Steve Harvey pick is the opposite of the team I'm picking to win). In parentheses is my picks for the week. Last week was good for picks and I'm hoping to duplicate that same success this week. Here we go!!!

• Chargers over Raiders (Raiders over Chargers)
• Redskins over Eagles (Eagles over Redskins)
• Patriots over Jets (Jets over Patriots)
• Cardinals over Packers (Packers over Cardinals)
• Giants over Vikings (Vikings over Giants)
• Broncos over Bengals (Bengals over Broncos)

Greatest Hail Marys

            In honor of the 'Hail Mary' thrown by Aaron Rodgers on Thursday, we shall take a look back at some of the greatest 'Hail Mary's' thrown in football. Collegiate or pro, it doesn't matter here. Here are some of the greatest (or not so greatest) last gasps of air for these teams.

On the Playlist

            It's another edition of "On the Playlist!" Some songs you might like, some you might not. Anyways, check it out!

My Article on Frank Russell (Revised by Frank Russell)

            Having a career as an athlete is something many dream of. For others, it’s an opportunity toward better ventures. 

            For Frank Russell, playing just one season in the NBA helped pave the way for opportunities in Pontiac and throughout the US and the World. 

            “Basketball was a vehicle for greater things,” Russell said. 

            It all started with playing sports at the park around the corner with his brothers, Conus, Aaron, Ted, Campy and Larry. 

            “We were active year-round playing hockey, baseball, football, and basketball,” Russell said. “But we didn’t specialize in a sport (basketball) until high school.” 

            "Even when there was snow on the ground, me and my brothers would shovel it off the court and play a game.”

             Russell comes from a deep basketball bloodline. His mother was an all-state player in Denmark, Tennessee in 1938. His other brothers, Campy and Walker, played in the NBA as well.                    One of his most memorable games was a nationally televised contest against then-No. 1 Marquette in 1972. Russell had a triple double for Detroit-Mercy in that game as the Titans upset Marquette by 20 points. 

             After his one season with the Bulls, he went back to school and graduated from college. He spent five years at the Pontiac Police Department as a counselor for juvenile offenders. 

            “I’ve had a lot of kids come back and tell me how I turned their lives around,” Russell said.                 Russell attributes his preparation for basketball afterlife to his parents Jake & Mary Russell, his two older sisters Mary E (a 1952 Graduate of Lane College in Jackson Tenn), Rachel and his coach at Detroit-Mercy, Jim Harding and Ben Bluitt. 

            “There was nothing I wasn’t prepared for,” Russell said. “He helped me master the game offensively and defensively.” 

             Now, he works at the Oakland County Department for human resources and publishes his own publication, The Pontiac News. 

             One of the goals with the publication is to cater to the Pontiac area and its surrounding communities by raising awareness on specific issues of today and providing a forum. 

             The advice he has for younger generations regarding their dreams is simple. “Set goals and have a plan to achieve those goals,” Russell said. “Most people don’t set plans for their goals.”

A Tribute to Jeff Gordon

        Normally, I don't talk about NASCAR on this blog (Or on my show, for that matter). But Jeff Gordon is such an icon in the sport of auto racing. Gordon's a four-time Winston Cup champion, three-time Sprint All-Star Race winner, six-time Southern 500 winner, and he has many other achievements under his belt. He was also named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. Here's some of Jeff Gordon's most memorable moments.

A Tale of Two Cities

       Here is a new post called, "A Tale of Two Cities." It chronologizes major events in sports between two cities. Today, we shall start off with Cleveland and Miami.

1. Major League (1989): The movie that made Charlie Sheen a star is about a Cleveland Indians team on the brink of moving to Miami. The owner is a former Vegas showgirl who inherited the team from her deceased husband. She reaches a lucrative deal to move the Indians to Miami and seeks to invoke the escape clause if attendance fell below a certain point. Most fans of the movie remember Sheen's entrance into a ballgame as Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. 
2. 1997 World Series: The Cleveland Indians won the American League pennant and faced off against the NL champ Florida Marlins. The series went seven games with the Marlins winning 4-3. Game seven went 11 innings after Craig Counsell hit a sac fly in the ninth to prevent the city of Cleveland from celebrating their first title in decades. An Edgar Renteria single sealed the deal for the Marlins in the 11th. Livan Hernandez (2-0 in the World Series) was named the MVP.
3. Lebron James picks the Miami Heat (2010): The 2010 offseason was perhaps the most famous offseason for the NBA. Their star player, Lebron James, was hitting the free agency market. Cleveland fans were hoping that the Akron native would return home, but Lebron had other plans. He joined up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, forming a Heat team that would make four straight NBA Finals and win two NBA titles.

Worst Uniforms Ever

        In honor of the uniforms donned by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday (which looked like a diarrhea blast from a McDonald's binge), we take a look at some of the worst uniforms ever worn in sports.

1. Chicago White Sox (1976) and the baseball shorts: Straight from the mind of their outrageous owner Bill Veeck, the Chicago White Sox donned these shorts on August 8th for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals. They were the first team to ever wear shorts in MLB history--and hopefully the last.
   
2. San Diego Padres (1996-present) and the camouflage uniforms: Personally, I think it's unfair to criticize the Padres for their friendly gesture towards America's armed men and women in combat. But some critics say that the camouflage proves to be a bit too realistic for the fans' taste. 
   
3. NFL (2015-present) and the 'Color Rush' uniform: Thursday's 'Color Rush' uniforms for the Titans and Jaguars looked like a battle between a team of diarrhea poop and smurfs. The previous Thursday game looked like a battle between Gang Green and the Starbucks holiday cups. The 'Color Rush' uniforms are rumored to have already spoiled some fans' Thanksgiving appetites.  
   
4. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1990s) and the Goalie Duck: I am a big fan of the Mighty Duck movies. But these uniforms are comical considering the duck on the jersey is breaking through the ice. I mean, I've never seen a duck do that in my lifetime.
   
5. Miami Marlins (2012-present) and their modern logo:  When the Florida Marlins became the Miami Marlins a few years ago, they didn't just change their name. They changed their logo to a logo that looked more like a hotel logo. I hear that the hotels in Miami are rockin' places to be, though. 
   

On the Playlist

        Here's another edition of On the Playlist. Some songs you might like, some songs you might tune out. Anyways, my hope is to entertain you in the best way possible. Enjoy!!

Gruesome Sports Moments

        In honor of Halloween, we take a look at some off the most gruesome and scary moments in sports. Be warned: you must have an ironclad stomach to proceed. This is not for the faint of heart!!!

Star Gazing

        The Dallas Stars haven't raised the Stanley Cup since 1998-1999. However, they're playing like they're a contender to start off the season. Dallas is 6-1-0 in their first seven games this season, good enough for 1st place in the Central Division.
        The reason for the Stars' success so far has actually been through many acquisitions that have been made over the past few years. One of the most prolific trades was the trade with the Boston Bruins in the 2013 offseason. They acquired Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser and Joe Morrow. Seguin has ten points so far (six assists, four goals).
        The Stars also acquired Jason Spezza from the Ottawa Senators in 2015, a trade that has proven to be quite successful. Spezza has five goals and eight points to start off the season. Also helping matters was the signing of Ales Hemsky, who was also formerly of Ottawa. Hemsky has five assists and a goal to start his season.
         So who's the mastermind behind all of these great moves? It's a guy named Jim Nill. Nill was a former assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings. He shadowed Ken Holland from 1994 to 2013, helping oversee the prospects for the Red Wings in their minor league affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also directed the amateur scouting and drafting. In his tenure, the Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups. He's not overly responsible for these four Stanley Cups, but he did play a major role.
        The biggest surprise of all of this? The Dallas Stars are having this much success in the NHL's toughest division. The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks are still a deep team. The Nashville Predators have lofty expectations this year that include a Stanley Cup. The St. Louis Blues are perennial contenders. The same can be said for the Minnesota Wild. The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a playoff appearance from last season. The Stars have beaten the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road and have beaten the Pittsburgh Penguins twice.
        Can the Dallas Stars sustain this level of play? More division play will dictate whether or not they have staying power. In the past, the Stars had a tendency of starting off fast and fading as the season progressed. Dallas is hoping that this season will be different.

Nostaliga Game Review: Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 for the Game Boy Advance

        The series Ready 2 Rumble was popular during the mid-late 90s. With its zany humor and extreme comic mischief, R2R was a series that reinvented the boxing genre of sports games. However, this game comes up a bit short.

        The graphics in the game look extremely nice, rendering 3D models into graphics that fit just right (Donkey Kong Country!) for the GBA. The sounds and music in the game are also decent. However, the gameplay is severely lacking. 

        When you are pitted in a boxing match, you're doing nothing but moving around. You're either getting away from your opponent or closing in on your opponent. When you are in range of your opponent, you can only throw one punch. That's it. No combos allowed. The closest thing you can get to a combo is when you're in "Rumble" mode and you fire off a punch a second. 

        The difficulty of the game isn't hard until you fight the last opponent. Then it jumps from quite easy to insanely difficult. The training in R2R is alright, but it can be improved upon. There are also not as many characters in the game as the PS2/N64 versions (Only 11 playable characters in the game).

        Overall, this game is pretty disappointing. It looks and sounds good, but it doesn't having a feel of boxing to it. But at least you get to play as Shaq or Michael Jackson. This game's got that going for it.

Playoff Busters?

        The College Football Playoff has yet to be released. However, there seems to be the equivalent of the old "BCS busters" that are hoping to crash the College Football Playoff. It's unlikely that one of these schools will be in the playoff, but it's still fun to envision a non-Power Five team getting in. Unfortunately, Boise State will not be a part of this list since they lost yesterday. Here are a few schools that would fit this description of a "playoff buster."

1. #22 Toledo:  The lone non-American Conference team on the list, the Rockets started off the season in impressive fashion, upsetting #18 Arkansas in Little Rock. However, that Arkansas win has faded a bit due to the fall from grace for the Razorbacks. Their toughest game will be a road test on November 17 against Bowling Green. They also have the MAC Championship game to worry about if they want to be considered for a playoff spot.
2. Memphis: The Tigers got their statement win today against #13 Ole Miss, beating the Rebels 37-24. Memphis can bolster their resume more if they can beat both #24 Houston and Temple on the road. Winning the American Conference Football Championship will help matters even more. 
3. #24 Houston: Houston got its statement win by edging Louisville on the road 34-31 on September 12. However, that win has become like Toledo's win over Arkansas and has faded a bit. However, the Cougars can make their situation better by beating Memphis at home on November 14 and winning their conference championship. 
4. Temple: This Philadelphia school got a win against Penn State in their first game that looks better by the week. The Owls have the biggest opportunity to bolster their resume with home games against #14 Notre Dame on October 31 and Memphis on November 21. The narrative for the Owls is similar to the other American Conference schools: Win the conference championship to boost your resume.

Food "Buy"

        Today on Food "Buy", we take a look inside the Pumpkin Spice craze and see if it's all the hype. This month's food item is the Pumpkin Spice Shake by Burger King. In a time where pumpkin spice lattes are all the craze, it seems adequate to put pumpkin spice into a milkshake, right?

        "Bye": That's where you'd be wrong. The aftertaste that the shake left in my mouth was that of bologna. I can't see how people go crazy and barrel through one another just for an item that has Pumpkin Spice. I guess I'm not a big fan of fall (Except when it comes to football coming back). But pumpkin spice does nothing from me. It's just a hodge podge of spices mixed in with pumpkin flavoring.

On the Playlist

        Here's another edition of On the Playlist, where I share songs that are on my playlist with you! Some you might like, some you might tune out. Anyways, enjoy!!

Detroit's Officiating Woes

        It seems that the Detroit Lions can't catch any breaks with officiating. Yesterday's game was proof of that as a referee missed an illegal bat by C.J. Wright from a Calvin Johnson fumble in the red zone. This was late in the game and this would've helped the Lions at least tie the game. The NFL has even stated that there was a mistake in spite of the referee not admitting to missing the call. It isn't just the Detroit Lions that can't catch a break with officials; the Detroit Tigers had the same thing happen to them a few years back with Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game. Hey, at least Jim Joyce admitted that he screwed that play up. Anyways, here are some other times where the referees have toyed with Detroit sports fans.

        ^This was the call that made Mike Pereira famous, by the way.^

Much More Internet Randomness

        Found on the internet waves, here's another edition of "Internet Randomness". Enjoy!!

                                                                                                                                                

While you're at it why don't you make sure Joey Crawford doesn't officiate anymore playoff games.

Seriously? I still can't believe it's not butter.

Never send a woman to do a man's job.

Q: who is the WNBA's all time leading shot blocker?
A: the rim

More fans attended the White Sox/Orioles empty stadium game than WNBA games

if waka doesnt get elected we riot

My names Jeff.

Got to protect the McNuggetts!!!

If anyone but Matthew Berry wrote this, I would read it

His wife doesn't read his column?

Bet your fatass never touched a basketball before.

I thought only the Seahawks and Broncos cancelled practice due to grass...

Baylor is starting up a fierce rivalry in 2019 with Incarnate Word.

Michael Sam gets a lifetime movie and we can't even get a picture of this guy

Well at least he isn't a pitcher or a catcher because the jokes would be endless.

If Kershaw's arm isn't too tired, he should go egg Baez's house right now.

Are Joe Flacco's tweets elite?

The real question is how much did opendorse pay for this article.

Lebron tweet my new mixtape I'll pay you back next friday.

Ball or Fall: The Rise of a King

Coolest College Logos

        I did a blog a long while ago on the coolest logos in all of sports. This time, I'm going to focus on the coolest logos in college. Some of these are glitzy logos while others look like iconic figures in American pop culture. Some logos are just plain cool. Check out some of these logos.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels

James Madison Dukes

New Mexico State Aggies

Boise State Broncos

Delaware Blue Hens

East Carolina Pirates

UTEP Miners

UNLV Rebels

PickSix: September 24, 2015

        Ladies and gentlemen, I went 4-2 (Got the bonus pick right as well) last week in my picks. There's always room for improvement, so let's hope it comes this week. Anyways, here are the picks.

• Giants over Redskins
• Falcons over Cowboys
• Patriots over Jaguars
• Seahawks over Bears
• Broncos over Lions
• Packers over Chiefs

College Football Upset: Arizona State over No. 21 USC

Which 0-2 Teams Have the Best Shot at the Playoffs?

        The NFL season is two weeks in and we have nine teams that are 0-2 to start off. Which of these teams have the best shot at rebounding from their funk and making the playoffs?

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are the only active NFL team to never have an 0-3 start. They have a good shot at avoiding this and their schedule isn't that bad sans road games at Pittsburgh and Arizona. That home game against Seattle could be tough, though.
Indianapolis Colts: Frank Gore has started off slowly, running for 88 yards on 23 carries. Andrew Luck has five interceptions compared to three touchdowns. Luckily, they play in a weak division along with games against the NFC South.
Houston Texans: The Texans also have games against division foes and the NFC South. Like the Colts, they need to get their offense figured out.
New York Giants: The Giants would've been 2-0, only they blew leads late into games against both the Cowboys and the Falcons. The Giants need to learn how to close games out or else this will be a long season for Tom Coughlin and company. They play in the weak NFC East, which should help.
Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Bradford's stats after two games consist of this: 66.3% comp. passes, 560 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. DeMarco Murray's stats? 21 carries for 11 yards. Looks like Murray misses that offensive line for Dallas.
Detroit Lions: The Lions' schedule doesn't get any easier in the next three games. They have to face the Broncos at home, the Seahawks on the road and the Cardinals at home.
Chicago Bears: The only potential cupcake the Bears get in the next four games is a home date against the Raiders. They also have home dates against San Francisco and Washington later in the season. Their schedule is still pretty difficult, though.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees has been banged up this season. But that hasn't been the problem: Their defense has allowed 57 points, 4th-most in the NFC. They do play against three weak divisions: Their own NFC South, the AFC South and the NFC East.
Seattle Seahawks: They just got Kam Chancellor back and they have six winnable games coming up. In fact, their schedule lets up with home games against Cleveland, St. Louis and San Francisco after their next six games.

The Best of Bartolo Colon

        The Mets are in first place in the NL East, mainly because of the acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes. But there is one Mets pitcher who has captured the hearts of many and that's Bartolo Colon. The 42-year old has a record of 14-12 this season along with an ERA of 4.15. He also has a WHIP of 1.24 and 131 strikeouts this season. His career numbers are decent as well. He has a lifetime ERA of 3.97, a win-loss record of 218-153, a career WHIP of 1.30, and 2,232 career strikeouts. Here are some reasons to love Big Sexy.

The Picks Have Returned

        I apologize for not doing the picks last week. It was the start of the NFL season and I just wrapped up my NFL preview. Anyways, here are the picks for this week:

• Broncos over Chiefs: Peyton Manning has won eight straight matchups against Kansas City and it won't change tonight. Peyton might've not been up to snuff last week against Baltimore, but the Denver defense should do just enough to ensure victory. 
• Texans over Panthers: First, Kelvin Benjamin is lost for the season with a left ACL injury. Now, Luke Kuechly might be out for this game with concussion problems. Ryan Mallett and Arian Foster better have decent games if Kuechly's out. 
• Steelers over 49ers: Even without Martavis Bryant or Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh should have a fairly good time against San Francisco.
• Cowboys over Eagles: DeMarco Murray really missed having a quality offensive line opening holes for him last week. He ran the ball eight times on nine carries against the Falcons. Can Tony Romo ride a wave of momentum that he had from Sunday's 4th quarter comeback against the Giants?
• Packers over Seahawks: Aaron Rodgers reunited with his old buddy James Jones last week, connecting with him for two touchdowns. This'll be a tough game for the Seahawks without Kam Chancellor, who's still holding out for a contract.
• Colts over Jets: Indy will face another stingy defense, only this one won't be as stingy as the Bills were last week. 

Bonus (EXTRA CREDIT): Pats over Bills

On My Playlist

        Here's another edition of "On My Playlist!" Today, I show you what's on my playlist and the various songs that I listen to. Some you might like, some you might tune out. Check it out!!

AFC West: Biggest Questions

        We wrap up our NFL preview with the biggest questions regarding the AFC West. This division features two teams that could be moving to Hollywood by the end of this season. Anyways, here we go!

Denver Broncos: Is the window of opportunity for the Broncos closing? Peyton Manning might be giving his last hurrah this season. If he's truly done, his stats certainly don't show deterioration. He had a rating of 101.5 while throwing for 4,727 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. But he hasn't been the sole reason (Aside from Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders) for why Denver was great last season. Denver ranked third in total defense, allowing 4,883 yards. They also allowed 36.5% of third downs to be converted, fifth lowest in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs: Can the receivers step up? The Chiefs lost long-time receiver Dwayne Bowe to Cleveland. However, the Chiefs brought in Jeremy Maclin (85 receptions, 1,310 yards, ten touchdowns) to help boost the receiving corps. Maclin becomes reunited with head coach Andy Reid, who was his head coach in Philadelphia. Kansas City's also hoping that receivers like De'anthony Thomas and Albert Wilson can have bigger roles on the team.
Oakland Raiders: Can Amari Cooper avoid becoming another Raiders receiving bust? The Oakland Raiders haven't been well known for having the best receivers, nor have they been known for franchise quarterbacks. From JaMarcus Russell to Darrius Heyward-Bey, it seems that they've had a hard time finding a receiver or a quarterback with staying power. Good players like Carson Palmer and Zach Miller have bailed for other teams. Oakland's hoping that Amari Cooper and Derek Carr can become the next great QB-WR duo before what could be their last season in the Bay Area.
San Diego Chargers: How much of a difference will Melvin Gordon make? Oakland's not the only AFC team that could potentially be headed to Hollywood. Both Oakland and San Diego are working on possibly sharing a stadium in Carson, California if they can't get new stadiums built in their respective cities. Anyways, the Chargers got a good draft pick (at least on paper) in Melvin Gordon. Gordon ran the ball 631 times for 4,915 yards and 45 touchdowns in his collegiate career with Wisconsin. One thing that the Chargers do need to work on is their discipline; San Diego was the fourth-most penalized team in the NFL on defense with 1,067 penalty yards.

AFC South: Biggest Questions

        We are close to wrapping up our NFL Preview (Only the AFC West left after this)! We take a look at the AFC South, a division featuring the best defensive player in the NFL and one of the most revamped offenses in the NFL.

Houston Texans: Can the Texans survive on defense alone? Houston has one of the better defenses in the NFL, anchored by superhuman J.J. Watt (78 tackles, four forced fumbles, 20.5 sacks). Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (47 tackles) will help bolster the defensive line and Houston will benefit from a healthy Jadeveon Clowney who contributes. However, the Texans have lost their best offensive weapon for over a decade in Andre Johnson. Their only means of offensive will be Arian Foster (260 carries, 1,246 yards, eight touchdowns). Otherwise, they should just throw to Watt when they're in the red zone.
Indianapolis Colts: Can they avenge last year's AFC Championship loss? As many people know, the Colts were blown out by the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. What happened during that game was noteworthy. As you should know, there was reports of Tom Brady deflating footballs to his liking before the game. The Colts found out and filed a complaint. They also added Andre Johnson and Frank Gore to their offense, helping Andrew Luck (3rd in passing yards at 4,761 yards) immensely. Frank Gore should help the rushing attack: Indy was 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,612 yards and tied for first in rushing fumbles with ten.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Are the Jaguars moving in the right direction? There are some people that say that the Jaguars are trying to emulate what the Seahawks are doing defensively, scheme and all. With players like defensive end Andre Branch (18 tackles, two forced fumbles, 3.0 sacks), corner Dwayne Gratz (55 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception), and veteran presence Paul Posluzny, this team could become the next Legion of Boom. The Jaguars also added Julius Thomas to help bolster the offense. Granted, this team won't likely be good this year. But they could be competitive in the next few years.
Tennessee Titans: How should Ken Whisenhunt utilize Marcus Mariota? The big question surrounding the Titans' camp concerns Marcus Mariota. How should he be used by head coach Ken Whisenhunt? Should Whisenhunt let him run around? Should Whisenhunt try and morph him into a prolific passer? What Whisenhunt does with Mariota will determine what Mariota's legacy will be in Tennessee. Anyways, this won't be a good year the Titans. At least they got their franchise quarterback... For now.

AFC North: Biggest Questions

        We take a look at a division that surprised a lot of people last season in the AFC North. This division featured an air-tight race that went down to the wire. Once again, it's a division that could be up for grabs.

Baltimore Ravens: Is Baltimore a sleeper pick to get to the Super Bowl? The Ravens have fairly impressive players on both sides of the ball. On offense, they have a running back who broke out last season in Justin Forsett (235 carries, 1,266 yards, eight touchdowns) and a veteran going into his last season in Steve Smith (1,065 yards, six touchdowns). Defensively, they have a sack master in Elvis Dumervil, who had 17.5 sacks last season. Their defense also allowed 1,412 yards last season, 4th-fewest in the NFL, and had the 2nd-most sacks in the NFL with 49. If Baltimore is to be a potential Super Bowl candidate, they need to fix their secondary up quite a bit.
Cleveland Browns: Will these new acquisitions make a difference? This offseason was a busy one for the Browns. Now, they didn't acquire any big names through free agency or through trade. However, they added players like receivers Brian Hartline, Terrelle Pryor, and Dwayne Bowe to help with Johnny Manziel. They also added Randy Starks (28 tackles, 4.5 sacks) from Miami to boost a defense that was not only the worst at stopping the run (2,265 yards), but also was 27th in sacks (31). Cleveland also had a good give/take ratio at +6.
Cincinnati Bengals: Can Andy Dalton win a playoff game? Quarterback Andy Dalton seems to be haunted by the task of trying to win a playoff game; he is 0-3 for his career in the playoffs. Dalton wasn't exactly solid during the regular season, either. He threw for 3,398 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His 19 touchdowns were 14 down from the previous season, which might indicate that he's having problems. This is considering that Cincinnati has a fairly solid 1-2 receiver combo in A.J. Green (1,041 yards, six touchdowns) and Mohammed Sanu (790 yards, five touchdowns).
Pittsburgh Steelers: Can the Steelers survive while Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell are gone? Two key players for the Steelers are out due to suspension to start the season. One of them is Martavis Bryant (549 yards from 28 receptions, eight touchdowns in just his rookie season), who was suspended by the NFL four games for violating its NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. The other player gone is Le'Veon Bell (290 carries, 1,361 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 83 receptions, 854 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns), who's been suspended two games by the NFL for the same thing. The Steelers still have Antonio Brown (129 receptions, 1,698 yards, 13 touchdowns), who's emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL. But Pittsburgh's first four games consist of road contests against New England and St. Louis and home games against San Francisco and Baltimore. It'll be interesting to see how Pittsburgh handles this stretch, although a 3-1 stretch isn't out of the imagination.

AFC East: Biggest Questions

        Now that we've finished covering the NFC, we're moving on to the AFC. We start off with the AFC East, a division that has potential to be one of the toughest. Here we go!

Buffalo Bills: Could this be the year? The Buffalo Bills currently have the longest playoff drought in the NFL, having missed the playoffs since 1999. However, this season shows a lot of promise. A new head coach (Rex Ryan), a new running back (LeSean McCoy), and a defense (4th in the NFL in total defense) led by Mario Williams (14.5 sacks last season) all give the Bills hope in making the postseason. It isn't just Mario Williams that is so good on the defense; the Bills' secondary held opponents to the third-lowest yards-per-game in the NFL at 205.8 yards a game.
Miami Dolphins: Can Ryan Tannehill get some help? The Miami Dolphins have high hopes for their quarterback Ryan Tannehill. They've already given him a new contract worth $96 million and are hoping he's the next Dan Marino (Maybe he can do Marino one better and win a Super Bowl).The Dolphins already have a loaded defense (Especially one that could stop the run) with Ndamukong Suh on the defensive line. The Dolphins were 17th in the NFL in receiving yards, so they went out and got Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills to boost their receiving corps.
New England Patriots: With Brady's suspension lifted, now what? Now that Tom Brady's a free man, expect there to be hell to pay in the NFL. The defending Super Bowl champs now have their top quarterback returning and avert having to go to Jimmy Garoppolo; Garoppolo has had a subpar preseason so far. However, their secondary has been weakened with Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis both gone.
New York Jets: How will the post-Rex Ryan era go? Darrelle Revis is coming back to the Jets and he's bolstering a defense that is already good; the Jets ranked 6th in total defense last season with 5,235 yards allowed. The Jets mainly got good defense from stopping the run; the secondary was 14th in total yards allowed in the NFL. The only problem will be the lack of offense that will keep the defense on the field for too long. With Geno Smith being hurt, that only makes things worse.

NFC West: Biggest Questions

        We wrap up our coverage of the NFC with the biggest questions surrounding the NFC West. This division has the potential to be one of the toughest again with the back-to-back NFC champion Seahawks, the playoff team known as the Cardinals, and the under-the-radar Rams.

Arizona Cardinals: Can this team be a legitimate threat in the NFC? Many Cardinals fans will tell you that if it weren't for Carson Palmer getting hurt, then the Cardinals would've not only won the NFC West, but would've had home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I, for one, agree with that. Palmer had a rate of 95.6 along with 1,626 yards, 11 TD, and three INT before missing the rest of last season. Plenty of good targets to go around as well, although Larry Fitzgerald hasn't had a 1,000 receiving yard season for three years.
San Francisco 49ers: How far will the 49ers fall from grace this year? Let's just say that San Francisco's offseason was an eventful one, albeit one that they'd like to forget. They lost a myriad of players on defense, Chris Borland retired before he even had an NFL career, Jim Harbaugh left San Fran to become a Michigan Man once again, and Aldon Smith and Ray McDonald were done away with due to legal issues. New head coach Jim Tomsula has a tall order of restoring the 49ers to what they were in previous years.
Seattle Seahawks: Can the reigning NFC champs make it three in a row in the NFC? The Seahawks were only a yard away from becoming back-to-back Super Bowl champions and they've already upgraded their targets for Russell Wilson by acquiring Jimmy Graham from the Saints. Once again, they boasted the NFL's top defense and look to do it again this year. They also hope to resolve the Kam Chancellor situation soon before it gets too dicey.
St. Louis Rams: Will this be their last season in St. Louis? The Rams made an eye-opening trade this offseason by swapping quarterbacks with the Eagles. They also added RB Todd Gurley through the draft and Nick Fairley (Career 98 tackles, four forced fumbles, and 13.5 sacks in four seasons with the Lions) to bolster the defensive line. But the real drama is whether or not the Rams will be staying in St. Louis. Owner Stan Kroenke has been working on potentially bringing the Rams back to Los Angeles for possibly next season.

NFC South: Biggest Questions

        Now we take a look at the NFC South, a division that could possibly be one of the NFL's weakest. But that shouldn't deter these teams for vying for a playoff spot in the upcoming season.

Atlanta Falcons: Will the Falcons' defense get better? The Atlanta Falcons' defense altogether was simply anemic. They had allowed the most combined yards on defense in 2014 at 6,372 yards. One promising thing to note for the Falcons was Paul Worrilow, who had 143 combined tackles last year, good for 5th in the NFL. The Falcons did add the likes of LB Justin Durant and DT Paul Solali, so the defense should have nowhere to go but up.
Carolina Panthers: How badly will the Panthers be affected by the loss of Kelvin Benjamin? Kelvin Benjamin emerged as one of Cam Newton's top receivers last season, breaking out for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. However, Benjamin will miss the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL, leaving the Panthers without many viable targets for Cam Newton aside from Greg Olsen. Devin Funchess should be a decent receiver, but can he fill the void that Benjamin has left?
New Orleans Saints: Are the Saints transitioning? New Orleans was one of the most popular picks to win the Super Bowl going into the 2014 season. They had a high-profile passer in Drew Brees (who went on to throw for 4,952 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions) and a great tight end in Jimmy Graham. Now that Graham has gone to Seattle, things look a lot different for the Saints. They still have Marques Colston (59 receptions, 902 yards, five touchdowns), but not much else in terms of receivers. Brandin Cooks (53 receptions, 550 yards, three touchdowns) needs to play a bigger role in the offense along with other receivers in order for the Saints to be taken seriously in the NFC South discussion.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can Jameis Winston truly be a star quarterback? So far, Jameis Winston has looked decent for the Bucs sans the preseason opener versus the Vikings. But one thing he really needs to do is keep his character in check. That means no more making a ruckus in the cafetaria. No more stealing crab legs. No more unsolicited sexcapades. Jameis must keep it together now that he's in the pros.

NFC North: Biggest Questions

        Now that we've covered the NFC East (Always an interesting cover), it's time to cover the NFC North. This might be one of the NFL's deepest divisions with the Packers and Lions being last year's playoff teams along with an under-the-radar team in Minnesota and perhaps a revamped team in Chicago. Here are the biggest questions surrounding the NFC North.

Chicago Bears: Is this Jay Cutler's last stand? There has been great concern for QB Jay Cutler in the past few years in the Windy City. In 2014, Cutler threw for 3,812 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 18 INT. He also had a completion percentage of 66, 4.3% above his career average. He's faced criticism from his former teammate, Brandon Marshall; Marshall said that he was the only one who held Cutler accountable. Already in his 10th season, this is do-or-die for the Vanderbilt alum to make something of his big contract.
Detroit Lions: How big of a void has Suh left on the defensive line? It isn't really Ndamukong Suh that the Lions will miss. It's also Nick Farley and C.J. Mosley that are gone from the Lions' D-Line. But the Lions did get Haloti Ngata (32 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 INT) from the Baltimore Ravens. The Lions only allowed 1,109 rushing yards in 2014, which was tops in the NFL. It'll be a bit of a tall order for the Lions to duplicate that sort of production this season.
Green Bay Packers: Does the absence of Jordy Nelson hurt the Packers' Super Bowl chances? Going into this season, the Packers were the favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, Jordy Nelson (1,519 yards, 13 TD) was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Granted, I still believe that the Packers will make the playoffs and still be a viable threat. However, their Super Bowl chances do take a bit of a hit. Considering how Green Bay was only a successful onside kick away from making the Super Bowl, it just burns them up even more to make it there.
Minnesota Vikings: Can this team make noise this year? Teddy Bridgewater (2,919 yards, 14 TD, 12 INT) looks to break out this season, but he'll need some help. He was sacked 39 times last season. In fact, Minnesota quarterbacks were sacked 51 times last year, which is ten more than the number of times that the opponents have been sacked by Minnesota's defense. If the Vikings are to make noise and be the NFC dark horse, they'll need to improve their blocking upfront.

The Curious Case of Donald Trump

        If you've watched the news lately, you've probably have seen a lot of this man.

        This man is none other than Donald Trump, real-estate developer, billionaire, and GOP presidential candidate. He's making a lot of noise in the GOP field, much to the chagrin of Democrats, the GOP establishment, and the news media. With the perfect storm of Hillary Clinton taking a huge hit in the polls and Donald Trump's meteoric rise in the polls, it's now become a viable vision that Trump becomes not only the GOP candidate, but that he becomes President of the United States. 

        The reason for Trump's uprising is a simple reason. As Ohio Governor John Kasich said, "He's hit a nerve in this country." His main focus of his campaign so far has been on immigration. Donald Trump has established that he wants to build a wall around the U.S.-Mexico border. Not only that, but he wants Mexico to pay for the wall. He's also stated that he wants to repeal the 14th amendment and end birthright citizenship. Other issues that he's talked about is bringing back jobs to the United States that China (and other countries) keep taking. He also wants to make sure that China doesn't cheat and would appoint Carl Ichan to oversee any trade deal made. He's even said that "he'd hit ISIS so hard, it'd make your head spin." Some of these issues have resonated with particular voters while it has turned off the other voters or left them confused.

        Aside from stating his political intentions if he's in the Oval Office, Trump has also bashed the hell out of ex-Governor of Florida Jeb Bush. From calling him "weak" to saying that he "has no energy", Trump has not shied away from his attacks on Bush. He's also taken aim at other candidates like Carly Fiorina:

I just realized that if you listen to Carly Fiorina for more than ten minutes straight, you develop a massive headache. She has zero chance!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2015

        He's also taken shots at Bernie Sanders and the incident involving the #BlackLivesMatter protestors in Seattle.

How is Bernie Sanders going to defend our country if he can't even defend his own microphone? Very sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2015

        And then there's this memorable moment at the GOP debate:

        As grandiose and egotistical of a candidate as Trump can be, there's no denying that he's had success with his campaign (at least so far). A new Reuters poll shows Trump polling at 32%, making him the front runner of the GOP field. So if Trump does win the GOP nomination or even the White House, I'd like for him to do us all a favor(?). I want him to play this at his inauguration or at the GOP convention:

NFC East: Biggest Questions

        The NFL season is quickly growing near and the excitement for the sport's return is also growing by the day. With that being said, it's time to begin our NFL preview. We're starting off in the NFC East, a division where every divisional team hates one another. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the biggest lingering questions that each team has for this upcoming season.

Dallas Cowboys: How will the running game be without DeMarco Murray? With DeMarco Murray defecting to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys now have some intriguing answers at the running back position. They were rumored to be in play to get Adrian Peterson from the Vikings, but those rumors were quickly shot down.They have Darren McFadden, who ran for 534 yards and two touchdowns with the Raiders last season. They have Murray's backup from last season in Joseph Randle, who ran for 343 yards and three touchdown with the Cowboys last year. They have Lance Dunbar, who ran for 99 yards last year with the Cowboys. They also have one of the most highly touted offensive lines from last season, which helped Murray rush for 1,845 yards (4.7 a game) and 13 touchdowns.
New York Giants: Is Eli Manning worthy of one of the biggest contracts in the NFL? Eli does have two Super Bowl rings at his disposal (One more than his brother Peyton). So on paper, he looks like he deserves to be paid big bucks. However, if it weren't for David Tyree's circus catch in Super Bowl XLII and a great defensive line and set of linebackers for both Super Bowls, then Eli wouldn't have those Super Bowls. Eli did have a better year last season, throwing for 4,410 yards, a 92.1 rating, 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. But he has a career completion percentage of 59% and 185 interceptions in 11 seasons to boot. His 82,4 career rating is marked by a few good season of ratings above 90 as well.
Philadelphia Eagles: Is Chip Kelly a toxic figure? Out went Nick Foles and in went Sam Bradford. Out went LeSean McCoy and in went DeMarco Murray. But the biggest issue stemming from the Eagles front is whether or not head coach Chip Kelly is driving players away. McCoy accused Kelly this summer of driving away all of the good black players after McCoy was traded to Buffalo. This season will be an indication of whether or not Chip Kelly is the cause for distress in Philadelphia.
Washington Redskins: Is RGIII damaged goods? Robert Griffin III suffered an apparent concussion in yesterday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions. This caused the plethora of questions concerning RGIII's future to rise once again. Griffin has had a notorious history of injuries; he had a concussion in 2012 and suffered a knee injury that same year. He re-aggravated the knee in a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks and suffered a dislocated left ankle in a 2014 game against the Jaguars. Of course, the knee injury against the Seahawks wasn't his fault; Dr. James Andrews didn't clear him to play that game. But the injury history of RGIII could become too overwhelming for Griffin to get past.

Watch This: Backwards Swing for a Home Run

        You're usually accustomed to seeing-or hitting-a home run (or any type of hit) with a forward swing. But never has anyone seen a home run swung backwards. This play has been featured on SportsCenter and ESPN on numerous occasions and it ceases to amaze. Check out the amazing display for yourself.

Worst Owners in Sports (Football Edition)

        This edition of Worst Owners in Sports takes us inside the NFL. The NFL is one of America's most popular sports, but some fanbases aren't so fortunate to have competent owners. Here's a look at some of the worst owners in the entire NFL.

1. Dan Snyder, Washington Redskins: It's not really the whole name debacle that I have a problem with. It's having a 108-148 record through the 2014 season during his tenure that I have a problem with. It's also bad signings like Albert Haynesworth along with rising prices, suing season ticket holders who couldn't pay (In spite of saying there were over 200,000 on their waiting list), and banning signs from FedEx Field that have Redskins fans seeing red. In fact, Snyder was named the most hated owner in all of sports this year.
   
2. Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns: Right out of the shoot and he's already one of the more hated owners in the NFL. He's the owner of the Cleveland Browns in spite of admitting that he's a Steelers fan. That's akin to the owner of the Red Sox (John Henry) admitting that he's a fan of the Yankees. But that's not all. During his tenure, Browns players such as Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon have either checked themselves into rehab for alcoholism or had substance-related problems which led to a suspension by the NFL. To top it all off, their general manager Ray Farmer was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for texting members of the Browns coaching staff during the 2014 season. The team was also fined $250,000 for the incident. Oh, and don't forget the federal probe into alleged fraud at Haslam's Pilot Flying J.
   
3. The Ford Family, Detroit Lions: Although the Lions did make the playoffs last year and were a game away from home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the Lions have had a woeful history under the Fords. The Lions have had ONE playoff win (Coming in 1992 against the Cowboys) since 1957. They're also the only NFC team to have never reached the Super Bowl and the only NFL team to go 0-16. They once had Matt Millen as their general manager as well and Lions fans will tell you how bad he was. Don't forget that they don't have cheerleaders on the sidelines, in spite of their team not being a family-friendly product. 
   

        Honorable (Or Not) Mentions: Mark Davis (Oakland Raiders), Stan Kroenke (St. Louis Rams), Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins), Woody Johnson (New York Jets)