Archive for December, 2008

NFL 2008 Recap

Fatpickle’s 2008 NFL Awards

Coach of the year - Mike Smith - Atlanta Falcons

He gets the nod over another rookie head coach, Tony Sparano. Smith did it with a rookie starting at QB and a team that was still reeling from the Michael Vick fiasco.

Honorable Mention - Sparano, Jeff Fisher

MVP - Chad Pennington - Miami Dolphins

He led his team to the biggest turnaround in the history of the NFL, and he wasn’t with them till the beginning of training camp. More on Pennington later.

Honorable Mention - Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson,

Rookie of the Year - Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons

A starter from day 1 he led his team to 11 wins and a playoff victory. Chris Johnson was a difference maker, but Ryan was a leader.

Honorable Mention - Johnson, Slaton

Winners

Pennington - He truly was standing on top of the world Sunday night. He beats the team who cut him after playing his heart out for them for 8 seasons. He beats the man whom they casted him aside for. He beats them in NY. And he did it with class.

Rookie QB’s -Ryan and Flacco played admirably and have their teams in the playoffs.

Rookie Head Coaches - Smith, Ryan, and Harbaugh led their teams to the playoffs. Zorn was 8-8.

Matt Cassel - After 7 seasons of zero playing time (college and pros) he steps right into Brady’s shoes and wears them well. A huge payday awaits.

Antonio Bryant - Off the scrap heap he delivers a career season, a huge payday awaits. BUYER BEWARE

Bill Cowher - He might be the first NFL coach to make 10 million a year.

LOSERS

Team collapses - Broncos, Jets, Bucs, Cowboys, and Redskins. All of these teams had the playoffs in their hands before fumbling them away.

Brett Favre - He totally alienated himself from his fans in Green Bay to come back and lead the NFL in interceptions. Oh yeah, he got his Coach fired.

Al Davis - Hand over the keys.

Ocho Cinco - Is this Spanish for “I suck?” His stats look like a second string TE’s.

Mike Martz - Fired for the 3rd time in 3 years. How do you say pompass ass in Spanish?

Cheers and Hail

The NFL - That’s The End Of The 4th Quarter

The Wizards Aren’t The Worst Team Ever

In a match up pitting 2 teams with the worst records ever to meet each other, the Wizards came away with a win. This brings the Wiz’s season record to 5-23, last in the Eastern Conference. Amazingly, they are only 7.5 games out of the final playoff spot. If they can play well enough until Gilbert Arena’s comes back, who knows, Playoffs? I don’t think so. My advice would be to bring back Arenas very slowly and start playing for ping-pong balls.
While we ponder how things got so bad, so fast, here are some highlights of the good old days.

Cheers and Hail

Six Degrees Of Fatpickled…Christmas Edition

If My Aunt Had Nuts…She’d Be My Uncle

Will The O’s Land Teixeira?

YES!!

This is my take on the whole Teixeira sweepstakes, probably way wrong but here is what I think is going on. Obviously smokescreens are being set everywhere. We don’t know exactly who has a serious offer on the table or who is in, who is out? Are the Red Sox really out, or are they just working Boras? Are the Yankees going to come to the table with ridiculous money? Does he play near his home in MD, but not for the O’s but for the Nationals? Does he stay with the Angels?

No, I think he signs with the Orioles. When the Orioles made an initial offer to Boras to show they are in the ballgame, that was all I needed to see. I believe that the Orioles will have the right to match any offer. I think Boras is out trying to get a $200 million dollar contract for Tex, because it’s his job, but ultimately he will not get the $200 million. He will probably get the 8 year $185 million that is being reported in the press. I believe Teixeira will then ask him to see if the Orioles will match it, because Baltimore is where he wants to be. Baltimore probably will not match it however, they will probably offer around 1-1.5 million less per year. At this point Tex will have to decide if wants to play for Baltimore at a “hometown discount,” or play for Boston. Whats 21 million per compared to 22 million? He chooses Baltimore (it may take an opt-out clause after 3 years, based on how competitive the Orioles are.)

The Orioles then need to sign Nick Markakis to a 6 year 75 million contract to lock him up. Committing $250 million dollars is a lot, but you’ll be set for the future. Tex, Markakis, Matt Weiters, and Adam Jones form an awesome nucleus to build around.
Here is a tentative lineup for 2009.