Category Archives: nfc east

2012 NFL Team Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to be the “Dream Team”, but the season turned into a nightmare very early. The team rallied strong, but missed the playoffs. Fans were upset, but should they have been?

The Eagles had a ton of new starters on defense and a defensive coordinator had never coached defense. The team didn’t have much of a training camp because of the lockout, so things looked bad early. Saying all that, with a training camp under their belt, will Philadelphia be dangerous this season?

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview of the Philadelphia Eagles.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 8-8

Key Additions: LB DeMeco Ryans, DT Fletcher Cox, QB Nick Foles, RB Bryce Brown, WR Marvin McNutt, LB Mychal Kendricks, DE Vinny Curry, S Oshiomoagho Atogwe, OT Demetress Bell, OG Mike Gibson, CB Kevin Thomas, CB Brandon Boykin, OT Dennis Kelly, P Mat McBriar and C Steve Vallos.

Key Losses: RB Ronnie Brown, WR Steve Smith, QB Vince Young, FB Owen Schmitt, DE Juqua Parker, DT Trevor Laws, OG Kyle DeVan, OT Tra Thomas, LB Moise Fokou and LB Greg Lloyd.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC North and NFC South

Fantasy Sleeper: RB Dion Lewis – LeSean McCoy just signed a lucrative deal to stay in Philadelphia long-term. A lot of backs regress the season after they earn a big deal. I’m not saying that McCoy will sleep on his pile of money and be lazy, but it is just a weird coincidence in the NFL. Ronnie Brown is no longer his backup and Lewis is the next in line. I don’t see Bryce Brown as a threat to overtake Lewis, but he was an elite talent out of high school…money could be his motivation.

Team Analysis: Michael Vick has already been knocked out of two preseasons games. Philadelphia will only go as far as Vick’s health can take them. Backup QBs Trent Edwards, Nick Foles and Mike Kafka won’t be able to fill-in and lead the Eagles to win the NFC East, the division is too good. Head coach Andy Reid felt comfortable with Kafka last season, but he has been injured. Foles has been a surprise and could leapfrog Kafka if he keeps playing well. LeSean McCoy got a lot of money this offseason and the Eagles have Dion Lewis and Bryce Brown on standby. I’m not a fan of Desean Jackson this season, but I feel like Jeremy Maclin will take another leap. The defense should be amazing this season. They will be tested with their non-divisional schedule. I see the Eagles contending for the NFC East crown and one of my favorites to make the Super Bowl.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 10.5 (Prediction: OVER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 11-5

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: New York Giants

Most of the country was rooting for the New York Giants at the end of last season. They faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. New York was deemed as the underdogs and most of the country wanted to see Eli Manning defeat Tom Brady for a second time in a Super Bowl. They went on to win and the spotlight is now shining very bright on them in 2012.

The current version of the Giants is much like last year’s model. They will still do the things they’re known to do well (rush the passer, throw deep, etc), but will have some new faces doing it. Will they miss a step without a few key players who departed in the off-season?

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview for the New York Football Giants.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 9-7

Key Additions: DT Shaun Rogers, TE Martellus Bennett, RB David Wilson, WR Rueben Randle, CB Antwaun Molden, OG Sean Locklear, CB Jayron Hosley, OT Brandon Mosley and OT Matt McCants.

Key Losses: TE Kevin Boss, TE Jake Ballard, CB Aaron Ross, RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Mario Manningham, WR Devin Thomas, DE Dave Tollefson and OT Tony Ugoh.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC North and NFC South

Fantasy Sleeper: TE Martellus Bennett – The Cowboys drafted Bennett to be Jason Witten’s successor, but he never had the opportunity to be a productive player. They just drafted Adrien Robinson and Bennett, even though he is panned as a bust, will get the bulk of the targets. Manning has shown a tendency of looking for tight ends in the past (Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, etc.), so Bennett could be a top-10 tight end in fantasy this season.

Team Analysis: Thanks to Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, Eli Manning had one of his best statistical years. Even though he threw 16 interceptions in 2011, it was an improvement from the previous season when lead the league with 25 picks. He lost a few targets this off-season (Manningham, Boss and Ballard), but he has some new toys to play with. Rueben Randle and Martellus Bennett should fill the void left by the departing players. On the defensive side of the ball, their secondary was their Achilles’ Heel in 2011. New York lost Aaron Ross in free agency and didn’t add any significant corners in the draft or free agency. They hope Prince Amukamara will take over his role. The one constant with the Giants every season is their pass rush. Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are back again to terrorize quarterbacks. The NFC East will be very competitive this season. Every team has improved and it will be difficult for the Giants to even make the playoffs. I don’t see them repeating as Super Bowl champions or even making the playoffs. I don’t blame a “Super Bowl hangover”, I blame other NFC teams getting a whole lot better.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 8.5 (Prediction: UNDER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 8-8

CLICK HERE to read the rest of our 2012 NFL Team Previews

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: Dallas Cowboys

Hello, Miss Jaime Edmondson. If you become bored with Evan Longoria’s dapper-ness, give me a call, Boo…I told you guys you would see more of her in our NFL team previews.

If the Dallas Cowboys don’t win the Super Bowl, their fans call for Tony Romo’s job and complain that Jerry Jones doesn’t know what he’s doing. I agree with the second statement, but Romo is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL.

They have much bigger issues than Romo and Jones. The Cowboys’ backfield is messy and injury-prone, the secondary has been their Achilles’ Heel and Dez Bryant’s off-the-field problems are the top three issues for Dallas. If they can solve two of those problems, they’ll be a title contender.

Here’s our 2012 team preview for the Dallas Cowboys.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 8-8

Key Additions: CB Brandon Carr, QB Kyle Orton, S Brodney Pool, LB Dan Connor, OG Mackenzy Bernadeau, OT Pat McQuistan, FB Lawrence Vickers, OG Nate Livings, CB Morris Claiborne, TE James Hanna, DE Tyrone Crawford, LB Kyle Wilber and S Matt Johnson.

Key Losses: TE Martellus Bennett, S Abram Elam, CB Terrence Newman, WR Laurent Robinson, S Gerald Sensabaugh, P Mat McBriar, LB Keith Brooking, CB Alan Ball, FB Tony Fiammetta, LB Bradie James and QB Jon Kitna.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC North and NFC South

Fantasy Sleepers: TE James Hanna & RB Phillip Tanner – Jason Witten has played ten seasons and is 30 years old. The Cowboys run plenty of 2-TE sets and Hanna is the next best tight end on the roster. He was impressive in college at Oklahoma and is in line to be Witten’s successor. He is a big target for Tony Romo and has nice hands. As far as Phillip Tanner goes, DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones are both injury risks. If Murray goes down at any point this season, Tanner will assume his role. Jones will stay as the change-of-pace back this year.

Team Analysis: I have been high on the Cowboys for the past five seasons, but I always change my mind by July. They make stupid signings and let key veterans walk in lieu of ‘sexy free agent’ signings. This past off-season, Dallas refrained from throwing a bunch of money at the best available free agent wide receiver and wisely used their available cap space. They added depth to their team by signing Orton to backup Romo and signed Pool and Carr to strengthen their secondary…smart moves. Dallas has some nice young pieces on offense. If Bryant can keep his nose clean and their running backs stay healthy, they will be one of the top-scoring offenses in the league. Their upgraded secondary will be tested this season. The NFC East has firepower at quarterback, but so does the NFC South, which they’ll be playing against this season. A lot of things have to go right for the Cowboys to win twelve games this season, but I think everything finally lines up for Romo.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 8.5 (Prediction: OVER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 12-4

CLICK HERE to read the rest of our 2012 NFL Team Previews

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

"The Bodyguard" (Not Starring Whitney Houston)

Pacman, I mean, Adam Jones seems to be in trouble with the NFL. I am not quite sure what the problem is, I really don’t at all. Allegedly, Pacman and a bodyguard that was hired to keep him out of trouble, got in a tussle in a hotel bathroom. They went to a Ludacris concert and there is a possibility of some alcohol being involved. I’m still not seeing a problem here.

A mirror was broken in the bathroom and no charges were filed and a police report wasn’t even written. The bodyguard and Jones was said to be goofing around and then suddenly things went bad and that’s when the argument/girl fight occurred.

I have a few problems with this even being a story. First of all, this bodyguard was working for the Dallas Cowboys to watch over Pacman. I am only assuming, but I hope this dude was either as big or bigger than an O-Lineman. Secondly, if this dude was big, and I’m pretty sure he had to be, how was this even a fight? Pacman is 5’9 at best and couldn’t weigh more than 200 lbs. I know he has some “street” in him, but was he packing a weapon to even make it a fair fight? I want to see a picture of the bodyguard and that would pretty much end the conversation. If the bodyguard couldn’t take care of a short cornerback, how could he hope to guard him from anyone of average stature and weight? Was this bodyguard Tony Mandarich or Robert Gallery? Anyone could get buy those guys.

I want everyone to stop talking about this story. Pacman Jones, yes I said it, is an average defensive back and doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things for the Cowboys. He is an excellent returner, but he isn’t even doing that for Dallas, Felix Jones has that job. Jerry Jones shouldn’t worry about Pacman and if anything remotely happens like this again, I hope he cuts him. They are going to battle this season to earn a playoff spot. The NFC East is a beast and one of those teams won’t make the playoffs and all these distractions will only hurt the team.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.