NFL Week 11: Pass the Popcorn

Welcome back, everybody!!! We finally made it to Thanksgiving Break. It has been a long week. Tony Romo made an emotional statement about now being the second string quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Tom Brady and the Patriots lost at home to Seattle. The Green Bay Packers are a hot mess. The Saints can't get out of their own way, and lookey there, my Kansas City Chiefs are in first place in the AFC West.

I know, I know, many people are not saying much about my Chiefs, but the Chiefs are 7-2 going into this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have only lost those 2 games since beginning last year with that 1-5 record. They have the longest current home game win streak with 10.  They are getting Justin Houston back today, and while I don't expect a monster sack game from Justin, his presence is a welcome to the defense.  

The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are both under-performing this season.  The Packers are currently sitting in third place in a division they have normally dominated.  Pittsburgh is also under pressure as they sit in second place in the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger seemed to throw his coach under the bus this week for his team's woes. Aaron Rodgers, however, came to bat for his coach as people begin to criticize Mike McCarthy, but some of his former teammates have come out swinging against Rodgers and his leadership (or lack of) in Green Bay. We are only halfway through the season and the drama!

While last week wasn't a particularly bad week with me, my five losses were teams that just. Seriously, my losses:  Atlanta, San Diego, Green Bay, New York, and New England. What gives guys?  So, I ended last week with a 9-5 record bringing my seasonal record to 90-57.  On the fantasy side, Lucille Swings is still hanging out in first place with an 8-2 record after soundly defeating my foe.  Lochted and Loaded took a loss last week and drops to 6-3.  Fantasy fans, do not forget that this is a bye week for Atlanta, San Diego, Denver, and the NY Jets. 

Sunday, November 20, 2016
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs:  Kansas City
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals:  Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns:  Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys:  Dallas
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions:  Detroit
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts:  Indianapolis
Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings:  Arizona
Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants:  New York
New England Patriots vs. San Francisco 49ers:  New England
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Rams:  Los Angeles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks:  Seattle
Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins:  Washington

Monday, November 21, 2016
Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders:  Oakland 

I will be back on Thursday to pick the Thanksgiving Day games. Until then, enjoy your games, and "Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books - especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day."-John Wooden

NFL Week 12: Do We Have Any Starters Left?

Welcome to Week 12 of the NFL Season! I hope you have all recovered from your turkey comas, and the 900 variations on turkey we've had since Thursday. This NFL season has been a pill when it comes to keeping players healthy. Two weeks after returning to Cowboys, Tony Romo is out for the year with a collarbone injury. Injuries are taking a toll on practically every team. You can field an all-star team with the number of people out for the year--Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, Colin Kaepernick, Steve Smith, Reggie Bush, Le'Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles, Victor Cruz, Arian Foster, Devin Hester, and the list goes on. Then you have the list of the walking wounded like Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, and Peyton Manning.


The good news for fantasy players is that the bye weeks are finally behind us; the bad news is trying to salvage enough players to make a starting line up. I've lost two starting running backs this season. My Just Gonzo current lineup includes: Tom Brady (so I really shouldn't complain), Spencer Ware, Todd Gurley, Larry Fitzgerald, Chris Harper, Travis Kelce, Jeremy Maclin, Cairo Santos, and the Denver Defense. Brady and Santos have been the only dependable people on this list. This year I lost Le'Veon Bell, replaced him with Charcandrick West (who probably will not play this week), dropped Peyton Manning and Golden Tate, benched Frank Gore and Danny Amendola. Today, I play one of the best teams in my fantasy league. Wish me luck, y'all.


As I mentioned the bye weeks are over, and the fantasy playoffs are approaching. Let's hope we have enough players left to make it to the finish line. With the Thanksgiving games included, I had a year's best 12-4 record bringing my total to 90-58 on the year. I tell you, picking games has been a crapshoot all year. You never know with the way some of these teams are playing. So, fingers crossed...


Sunday, November 29, 2015
Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons: Minnesota (I have so little faith in the Falcons.)
St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati
Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans: Tennessee
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts: Indianapolis
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City
Miami Dolphins at NY Jets: New York
NY Giants at Washington Redskins: New York
San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville (I can't believe I said that)
New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans: New Orleans
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers: Arizona
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks: Seattle (only because they are a hard out at home)
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos: New England


Monday, November 30, 2015
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Baltimore (even with a backup because Cleveland is a mess)


Thursday, December 3, 2015
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions: Green Bay


Good luck everyone! Until next week, "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."-Frank A. Clark

NFL Week 17 Picks

It is the last week of the regular season (where did the year go?).  We will be saying goodbye to a lot of teams tomorrow, while we will be waiting to see which teams will take those final spots in the playoff race.  San Diego, Chicago, Green Bay, Miami, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Arizona, and Dallas are all vying for those coveted last spots.

Not only will we be bidding some of these teams adieu, we will also be seeing the end of the awesome career of Tony Gonzalez who will be taking the field for one final time at the Georgia Dome on Sunday.

He will enter the game on Sunday with 15,071 receiving yards (one of only 5 players in the 15K club and the only TE).  He has a reception in 210 straight games (one of only 2 players with that stat).  His 1321 receptions are second only to Jerry Rice, and his 111 career touchdowns put him 2 better than Barry Sanders and 1 from tying Shaun Alexander at number 14. He holds practically every single record for a tight end. The G.O.A.T. We'll miss you, TG.

Tony Romo had surgery on Friday, so the Cowboys are looking to Kyle Orton to help them defeat the Eagles.  The Packers are welcoming back Aaron Rodgers whose collarbone was finally cleared for action in time to meet Bears.  The Panthers, Saints, and 49ers are all vying for the #2 seed in the NFC. Tomorrow will definitely be and interesting day.

Congratulations to my Chiefs who are in the playoffs and are sending 8 players to the Pro Bowl.  Chiefs Pro Bowlers include Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Brandon Albert, Eric Berry, Brandon Flowers, Dexter McCluster, and Dontari Poe.  Now, Andy Reid and the boys just need to get over that first round hump...

Last week, I pushed my weekly record to a little better than .500 going 9-7 bringing my total to date to 132-104. 

Sunday, December 29
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Detroit
Washington Redskins at New York Giants:  New York
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals:  Cincinnati
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts: Indianapolis
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins:  Miami
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers:  Pittsburgh
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: Tennessee
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals:  Arizona
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: Green Bay
St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks: Seattle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints: New Orleans
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots: New England
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders:  Denver
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers: Kansas City
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys:  Philadelphia

Within us there is someone who knows everything, wills everything, does everything better than we ourselves.
Hermann Hesse
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/hermann_hesse_2.html#PrC7icg36cGhsgjq.99

Until next time, “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

Within us there is someone who knows everything, wills everything, does everything better than we ourselves.
Hermann Hesse
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/hermann_hesse_2.html#PrC7icg36cGhsgjq.99

Within us there is someone who knows everything, wills everything, does everything better than we ourselves.
Hermann Hesse
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/hermann_hesse_2.html#PrC7icg36cGhsgjq.99

Happy Thanksgiving!! NFL Turkey Day Picks...

Hey, Hey, everybody!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

I really am not the only one a little confused about what is going on in the NFL, right?  I really am at a loss for the season that is unfolding before us.  Okay, I thought that the New England, Houston, and Baltimore, but for some dumb reason, the homer in me picked the Kansas City Chiefs as my AFC West Champions.  Yeah, those 1-9 Chiefs.  The same Chiefs whose fans split the stadium in black (for mourning) and red (to match the seats).  The SAME Kansas City Chiefs who did a choreographed touchdown celebration on a touchdown that didn't happen.  The SAME KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Mr. Loren G. "Sam" Lickteig blamed partially for his death.  RIP Mr. Lickteig. 

The AFC West is the hot mess of all of the NFL Divisions.  The Denver Peytons are the only team in the AFC West with a winning record.  San Diego has forgotten how to play.  Philip Rivers has forgotten how to throw to the Chargers.  Carson Palmer is apparently modeling his career after Philip's dropping passes to other teams.  The Chiefs, well, they continue to flip a coin between equally mediocre quarterbacks.  It is the American Horror Story.

Why I Don't Really Care for Tim Tebow...

"Tebow has changed NFL QB game" "Tim Tebow: All he does is win" "Rick Perry Compares himself to Tim Tebow" "Tebow wins again! Drug sniffing dog named after the football star makes a cocaine bust" " 'Tebowing': Dictionary Recognizes Tim Tebow Phenomenon"

You can barely turn on the television these days without seeing Tim Tebow smiling, Tim Tebow winning, Tim Tebow working out, Tim Tebow tebowing, Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow... Annoying right? Don't get me wrong. Tim Tebow is a great kid. He has a Heisman. He has two BCS Championship rings. He's a humanitarian. He's a devout Christian. He has worked as missionary. He is everything the NFL wishes in a poster boy. I get it. I really do. I really don't hate Tim Tebow the person. As a matter of fact, he is a great role model for kids, but Tim Tebow the football player? I can't stand that dude.