Making Sense of NFL Draft Tall Tales

By - Tim Swift

When you work at a sports radio station in an NFL city for over a decade, you tend to get immersed in football 24/7, 365 days a year. In the past (in the weeks leading up to the draft), I've called this the NFL "silly season," because general managers, coaches, scouts, agents, players and the media are talking loud but not really saying a word.

Photo by: Getty Images

No one admits it, but everyone is lying this time of year, and it's fascinating to try and put it all together. In this day and age where essentially every Joe Blow can get access to a highlight film of a kid from Appalachian State, you have to use misdirection to get what you want.

Let's look at all of these parties and figure out how they use the art of deception to their advantage.

- General Managers

Obviously GMs have a lot to lose when it comes to the draft and their reputations. I've heard GMs spend weeks on end talking up certain players, but then when draft day rolls around, if you were to go into their "war room" that particular player is way down on their board or in some cases not on it at all. In the spring, some GMs will play things close to the vest and stay away from the media completely, while others will talk to anyone holding a microphone, but most of what comes out of their mouth is BS until draft day.

- Coaches

Most coaches don't have the time to watch the college football that the GMs and the scouts have, so they might get a distorted view of a particular player. Also, coaches might talk up depth at a particular position, and then you look up on draft weekend and they have spent a high pick on a position that the coach hasn't talked about in months. Some coaches will target a guy and downgrade him in the media, then he ends up on the team. A case to watch for is new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who has seemingly gone out of his way to talk negatively about Johnny Manziel. If he takes him at No. 8 come draft day, everything he's said for the last 3 months or so has been bull; clever bull to get the other teams in front of them thinking.

- Scouts

Whether you are the director of scouting or you're a scout just for a particular conference or region, you always want to be the person who discovered the small school guy or the undiscovered player on a SEC or Big 10 team. It can get your reputation up and keep you in the NFL for years to come. Scouts will often talk to the media and let them know what players they would never take and players who should be snatched up in the first round. Of course, most of it is done anonymously to get the mystery factor up.

The Issues Surrounding an 18-Game NFL Season

By - Tim Swift

Last week, the NFLPA elected Eric Winston as the new president, and one of the first things that came up was the proposed 18-game season.

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From the get go, Winston and the players have been dead set against the idea of taking away two preseason games and adding them to the regular season. I've gotten the opportunity to talk to several current players on the subject, and this is the only topic that I can remember that they all seem to be in total agreement on.

The NFL offices in New York City can talk about their continued commitment to player safety and new policies that will help players in the future, but as soon as Roger Goodell and all his cronies speak of an 18-game season and take the "that's what the fans want" route, the hypocrisy reigns supreme.

If there is going to be an 18-game season, the owners are then going to have to make some major concessions with the roster numbers and the amount of guys you can dress on game day. Currently, once the season starts, you have 53 guys on your roster and dress 46 on game day. If the owners aren't willing to expand the rosters by the second half of the season, teams will be signing guys off the streets, and the quality of the games will suffer. Another idea along the same lines is expanding the practice squad roster, which currently consists of 8 players.

Bye weeks are yet another major issue that the NFLPA and the owners would have to hash out if an 18-game season happens. One of the ideas that has been proposed is that each team would then get 2 byes at some point between the 3rd and 16th week.

Salary cap issues have been brought up by both sides in this battle, and with the cap increasing by $10 million this year, future major increases would have to happen; especially if the rosters are expanded by 10 to 15 guys. Minimum salaries could also be changed. As of right now, the league minimum ranges from $420k for rookies to $950,000 for 10-year vets.

The reaction of the fans to the proposed 18-game season has varied. The ones who simply love the sport and can't get enough don't care if it's played on Monday, Thursday or Saturday, and those are the fans Goodell and the owners are directly attempting to cater to. Many people have taken to the idea that they don't want to put even more money in the pockets of the owners, and that there's no sense in changing something that is fine as is. There is definitely a "don't fix it if it ain't broke" mentality to this segment of fans.

2014 NFL Free Agency Frenzy

By - Tim Swift

NFL free agency began this week, and within the first 24 hours, over a billion dollars in contracts were handed out; with $350 million of that being guaranteed money.

Photo by: Getty Images

This year the salary cap rose $10 million, up to $133 million, with a spending minimum of at least 89% for a 3-year average.

Today we're going to focus on the teams who had the most cap space in each division entering the free agency period, how they have spent their money so far, and what they could still do as the process continues.

NFC East: Washington Redskins ($29.5 million)

The Redskins have been to cap hell and back over the last few years due to penalties from the last lockout. With that now behind them, they finally have a bit of money to play with. However, considering owner Dan Snyder's notorious spending habits, having this kind of cash could actually be a hindrance. One of the first priorities is whether to re-sign Brian Orakpo to a long-term deal after he was franchise tagged a couple of weeks ago. The Redskins went out and got another weapon for QB Robert Griffin III, signing Andre Roberts from Arizona, an underrated wide receiver.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers ($35.1 million) and Minnesota Vikings ($35.3 million)

These two NFC North rivals virtually have the exact same cap numbers going into free agency, so we'll just put them together. The Packers have their franchise quarterback and several parts to go with that, so the focus for Green Bay will most likely be on the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball. Re-signing Sam Shields helps, but the Packers still need to make a few more moves to retool the D. The Vikings will probably go after a QB in this year's draft, so the free agency focus has been on the defensive line. So far, they've re-signed Everson Griffen and picked up DT Linval Joseph from the Giants.

NFC South: Atlanta Falcons ($26.2 million)

To this point Atlanta has focused on both the defensive and offensive lines, which were major problem areas in 2013. The Falcons signed defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai, along with offensive guard Jon Asamoah. Atlanta still has quite a bit of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and with a few shrewd moves, there is no reason why they can't get back to being competitive this year.

The "Distraction" Lie Around NFL Locker Rooms

By - Tim Swift

This past week at the NFL Combine, one of the words that came up a lot when talking about former Missouri standout Michael Sam was "distraction."

Fans and the media have bantered about how an NFL team will welcome the first openly gay player, and how Sam could potentially be a distraction to whichever organization selects him.

Photo by: Ben Liebenberg

Also last week, footage surfaced of Baltimore running back Ray Rice dragging his unconscious fiancee out of an Atlantic City casino elevator. Obviously we don't know the whole story, but putting your hands on a woman at any time is a pretty disgusting act. Once the video footage began to circulate, few talked about how the alleged heinous crime could be a distraction for the Ravens next season, and coach John Harbaugh even went as far as to say he was confident that Rice would be back with the team.

This is a perfect example of the double-standard that is so blatant around the National Football League.

The vast majority of GMs, coaches, and players are worried about Sam being a distraction, but guys that have been accused and in some cases convicted of crimes are just fine, and in most instances, welcomed back to the locker room with open arms.

The whole idea of distraction when it comes to an NFL locker room is pretty ridiculous in the first place. The Patriots dealt with one of their best players being involved in a murder investigation prior to the 2013 season, yet the people within the organization didn't blink because they controlled the narrative.

Here is something you may not know about NFL locker rooms and the access that the media and fans get; it's completely up to the team who they let in the facility. The Patriots controlled the narrative from the start, and once the season actually got underway, you didn't hear a peep about Aaron Hernandez. Some franchises, like New England, don't have a lot of people within the organization talking out of turn, and typically, those are the ones that run more smoothly.

On the other hand, when the New York Jets signed Tim Tebow and let him do an hour-long press conference, they allowed a ton of media into the facility that under normal circumstances wouldn't have been there. Tebow went on to do interviews all throughout the year, and nobody within the organization ever saw fit to say maybe it's not such a good idea to let our backup QB who has thrown all of eight passes talk to everyone with a mic.

A Comprehensive Guide to the NFL Combine

By - Tim Swift

One of the biggest highlights of the National Football League's offseason comes in late February, when GMs, coaches, scouts, and owners descend upon Indianapolis for the combine.

Many people believe that because the players aren't in full pads during the event, it lessens the significance of analyzing them. However, for many of the evaluators around the league, it's the first impression they get of the prospects.

Here's a list of what the players will be facing when they arrive in Indy.

- Workout Drills

Photo by: Ben Liebenberg

These are the drills that will get most of the attention over the next week. The ones that will be talked about the most are the 40-yard dash and the bench press. The other drills that the players will participate in include the vertical jump, three-cone, broad jump, and shuttle run. Flashy numbers in the 40 and the bench press are sure to impress the fans and media members alike, but most NFL executives know that the workout drills are just a small part of the much bigger picture.

- Positional Drills

These drills are much more important to coaches and scouts. During this period, you're going up against other players that you could be facing off with over the next several years. The biggest traits that the coaches want to see are technique and effort, even if you don't execute each drill perfectly. If you're fundamentally sloppy or not giving it your all, coaches, scouts, and GMs will notice immediately.

- Dealing With the Media

At some point, people in the media are going to ask dumb questions. Questions that pry into your personal life and have nothing to do with football. Some people will even ask questions to make things about them and not the players. Trust me, each team will be watching to see how players deal with the media and how they answer tough questions. If you can't handle media sessions during NFL combine week, you are way more likely to blow up after a big loss or break down after a slump in play.

- Film Work and Testing

Sooner or later, coaches will get players in a room and ask them what they're seeing on game film, and they've got to be able to explain the plays and schemes. It's amazing how some players reach this level by dominating physically, yet don't have any real grasp on why they should be lined up at a certain spot. The film work is one of the most underrated parts of the combine, and can go a long way towards impressing a team enough to want to draft you or scaring a team away altogether. Also, players will be taking the infamous Wonderlic Test during the week, which will be the source of much debate when the scores get out, and they always do.

More Postseason Heartache For Peyton Manning

By - Andy Garcia

A record-breaking 2013 season was all for naught for the Denver Broncos, dominated by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday night to the tune of 43-8.

While this shellacking hurt many a Bronco faithful, it hurt Peyton Manning even worse. Not emotionally, but rather, his legacy.

Photo by: Chris O'Meara

Throughout his illustrious career, No. 18 has been catching flack for coming up short in the biggest moments. He has not been able to silence the naysayers time and time again with consistent "one and done" postseason appearances, and now two Super Bowl losses.

With all the regular season achievements and accolades, Peyton could have essentially ended all the "greatest quarterback of all-time" debates had he won both those games, or possibly had he just closed the deal Sunday. But now, with a 1-2 record in the Big Game, he cannot be placed in a class all his own.

Yes, the Manning vs. Brady vs. Montana debate lives on.

Ever since coming into the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 1998, Peyton has taken the quarterback position to another level entirely. He has revolutionized the game, breaking countless records and dismantling anything defenses have thrown at him. All the numbers speak for themselves, and there's no denying that Manning has already cemented his place in Canton one day in the not-so-distant future.

The only thing souring his legacy are his postseason credentials.

He once again has a losing playoff record, now sitting at 11-12. Out of the 15 NFL seasons Manning has played, his team has made the playoffs 13 times, but has been eliminated in the first game 8 of those. To put it another way, that means he has been one and done over 60% of the time he has been in the postseason.

Given how well he plays during the regular season, that's almost inconceivable.

Manning has an impressive 97.2 career passer rating during the regular season, but it dips down to 86.8 in the playoffs. His touchdown-to-interception ratio for his career is 2.24 to 1, but in the postseason, it is just 1.54 to 1. Another noticeable drop.

Again, the numbers speak for themselves; he clearly doesn't play up to his full potential when it matters most.

Lynch vs. the Media: Who's Really in the Wrong?

By - Benjamin Lincecum

Unless you live outside of the United States or under a rock in the States themselves, you've heard about the Super Bowl this week. You heard the storylines of Peyton's legacy, Richard Sherman's comments in an article about Manning, Peyton's response to those remarks, John Elway's remarks about Manning's legacy, as well as a number of other topics.

Seemingly, though, one of the most important stories that has been pushed by the media is Marshawn Lynch's unwillingness to engage them. You heard about how he was fined earlier this season and a hope was hung over him that it would be rescinded if he managed to sit in front of the microphones and answer questions following each game as the season progressed.

Photo by: Jeff Zelevansky

Upon immediate reflection, I thought that Lynch was being ridiculous. I understand that he has a beef with the local media in Seattle and he feels like the press is only out for a story, but that's their job. Just like it's his job to carry the rock and interact with the fans via postgame and weekly interviews. Really all a player has to do is be amenable and answer the questions and there's nothing to worry about.

If Lynch is given a pass to ignore the media, what might happen in the future when a quarterback or receiver declines to interact with them and there are no stories leading up to the Super Bowl? After all, it is important to get these storylines out so that we, the fans, will have something to talk about throughout the week, right?

Wrong.

In today's world of social media, fans have a different way of interacting with the players. We no longer rely strictly on the press to give us exclusive access to these players and their thoughts. All players are given crash courses on the pitfalls of social media and taught how to manage the way they present themselves through that medium.

With the blogosphere constantly drumming up conspiracy theories and opinions based on little-to-no actual interaction with the players, the media largely becomes nothing more than a confirmation tool. The fans no longer need every player to give us their thoughts after every game. We have our own thoughts and opinions that we value far more, and are not afraid to share them.

So why the media obsession with Marshawn Lynch? Why try to force a player who obviously does not want to talk to the media, to talk to the media? Can the reasons above legitimately be applied to this scenario?

I think not.

Best Prop Bets to Win Super Sunday

By - Keith Smith

I've read several stories this week about the weirdest, strangest, craziest prop bets available in Las Vegas for this year's Super Bowl. I'm not going to cover those here, but instead tell you the ones that will be the easiest to win, just in case you get to Vegas before Sunday.

- How Many Times Will Eli and Archie Be Shown During the Broadcast?

Photo by: Jamie Squire

The over-under for Eli is 1.5, while the over-under on Archie is 1. This bet is an absolute lock. Take the over. In fact, I'll bet that both these are covered by halftime. You know they will be together, in a box, so if the camera hits one of them, it will hit both, and I can almost assure you they'll show that box at least once per half. Book this bet now!

- Will Peyton Manning Score a Rushing Touchdown? (10-1 odds against)

While this one isn't quite as much of a guarantee as the first, and being that the odds are 10-1 against (which means you bet $10 to win $1), it's still a pretty good bet that, with the toughness of Seattle's defense, this has a good shot of happening. There is always that off chance of a quarterback sneak, or, God forbid, Peyton breaks out the naked bootleg that he says he only uses like once every five seasons. How long has it been since he used that last?

- Will the Power Go Out Again? (20-1 odds against)

Personally, I wouldn't touch this bet, considering the game is being played in New Jersey. There are just too many things that can happen. Governor Christie might be mad at someone in East Rutherford and throw the switch; excess snow could cause downed trees and power lines; some guy named Guido with a large butcher knife may have money on the "yes" side of this bet.

But, after last year's power debacle, you can bet that every precaution has been taken to avoid a repeat of that, so it might be an easy bet to win. Again, you have to plunk down a big chunk to make a little, so I would avoid this one, but that's just me.

- How Many Times Will Peyton Yell Omaha? (over/under 27.5)

Another one that is almost too easy. In the first playoff game, he uttered his count trigger "Omaha" 44 times, and in the AFC Championship, he used it 31 times. Yes, that's a downward trend, but with the ferociousness of the defense he's facing, I believe it will go back up. This should be a good bet.

More Negative Press For the Oakland Raiders

By - Andy Garcia

When it rains, it pours. This old saying certainly pertains to the Oakland Raiders as of late. Less than a month after concluding their eleventh-consecutive non-winning season, the franchise is now forced to face some legal issues.

A class-action labor complaint was filed against the organization by one of their Raiderette cheerleaders under the alias Lacy T. last week. The lead plaintiff is seeking damages for failure to pay minimum wage, no overtime pay, failure to pay wages in a timely manner, and several other claims. The lawsuit may apply to current as well as former Raiderettes working for the team in the last four years.

Photo by: Getty Images

The main grievances brought against their employer by the Raiderettes is the fact that they are paid $1,250 for the season, which amounts to $125 per game. That sounds like a fairly reasonable salary, but the problem is that when you take into account all the practices, photo shoots and other special events, it amounts to less than $5 an hour.

There is no additional pay for the extra work put in off the field.

And to make matters worse, their wages are withheld until the end of the season, where the Raiders can then dock each cheerleader for fines accumulated throughout the year, which can range from forgetting the proper workout equipment to being benched games for gaining weight. These allegations are unbelievable, but what is just as ridiculous is the fact that they would even sign a contract with so many illegal provisions to begin with.

First and foremost, though, does the NFL really need cheerleaders?

It is understood that they are eye candy, and sex definitely sells, but they are completely unnecessary when it comes to the games themselves. It is fine for high school and college ball to have cheer squads, because it adds to the school spirit, but no one really cares about them at the professional level. If we took a survey on why people attend NFL games, I'm sure the number of people that would say they go to check out the cheerleaders would be microscopic. They are not shown much on TV during the broadcasts, so they are essentially invisible to the fans who aren't in attendance regardless.

Simply put, the league can do without them.

With that said, they are employed by their respective teams, and should therefore be compensated as a regular employee. Being an upper echelon cheerleader such as a Raiderette or Dallas Cowgirl is a great honor. It opens many doors for these women in the entertainment business; to get into the modeling industry, or dare I say it, date a successful athlete. Many of them do not mind getting paid meekly, so long as they get the privilege to do what they enjoy doing, and have the chance to try and better their situation through it.

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview and Prediction

By - Brad Heerschop

It's a tad premature, but other than maybe a bit of a weather factor, I don't see anything swaying me far from what I'm about to predict here.

Five short months ago there were 32 teams in the NFL playoff picture, as the season was about to begin. The rest have been sent packing, and left standing are the league's two best clubs fighting for all the glory on Super Bowl Sunday.

Photo from: yahoo.com

Liquor stores and grocery chains are ordering extra stock, as people are throwing diet plans out of the window preparing for next weekend's festivities. The biggest event of the year is finally here, so loosen your belt buckles and open your wallets, because it's time to bet on things that would otherwise just be an afterthought.

Who wins the coin toss? How long will the anthem be? How many times will Boomer Esiason say the words Peyton Manning? I can't tell you the answers to these questions, nor do I care to, so if these are the questions on your mind, here's your cue to stop reading this article. What will follow is merely a preview and final score prediction for Super Bowl XLVIII.

Sorry to disappoint.

The Seattle Seahawks escaped with a win last weekend, thanks in large part to the turnover machine that was 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The No. 1 defense in the NFL took over the game, forcing 3 turnovers in the final 11 minutes of the contest, as the Seahawks outscored their rivals 20-7 in the second half en route to a 23-17 victory.

All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman sealed the game with a tipped ball that landed in the arms of teammate Malcolm Smith in the closing minute of a thrilling contest. In his now legendary postgame interview with Erin Andrews, Sherman gave himself the moniker of "best corner in the game." He may be on to something there, though, considering he was the least targeted cornerback in the NFL this season and still managed to pull in 8 interceptions. While his comments about his skill-set may or may not be true, Sherman's controversial rant certainly had a polarizing effect on fans, and was clearly the story of the week for all media outlets. But you've already heard that tale.

The Seahawks stout defense has allowed only 32 points in their two playoff games, and are playing like a unit possessed. This is nothing new. Through 18 games now, Seattle is allowing a mere 14.6 points per game on average. They held league-lows in yards per passing attempt allowed (5.8), passes of 20+ yards allowed (30), yards per game allowed (273.6) and points per game allowed (14.4). As the league's clear-cut No. 1 defense, the Seahawks have allowed a grand total of only 18 passing touchdowns all season.

Will Old Man Winter Claim Super Bowl MVP?

By - Keith Smith

The Super Bowl is just over a week away, and while there is plenty of discussion about the two teams who will play, there may be even more talk about the potential MVP of the game; Old Man Winter.

Photo by: Elliott Almond

A rather large winter storm blanketed the New York/New Jersey area this week, and the talk is "what if" this type of thing happens on February 2nd, when the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks square off to decide the best team in the NFL? East Rutherford, home to MetLife Stadium where the game will be played, is already a traffic nightmare, but if you add a foot of snow, what then?

Never fear. A contingency plan has been in place since the NFL boldly chose to play for the first time ever in a cold weather city, in an open-air stadium, in early February. There are extra snow plows, front-end loaders, dump trucks full of salt and extra salt-spreaders, and about 1,600 city and state road workers on call for next Sunday's contest.

There have been Super Bowls in cold weather cities, but all have been in domes previously. This one, should Mother Nature decide to play one of her funny little tricks, could be really, really interesting.

I'm probably in the minority when I say this, but I hope it's borderline blizzard conditions. To me, that's the way football should be played. The Ice Bowl (the NFL Championship Game to decide who would play the AFL Champion in Super Bowl II), was played in Green Bay on New Year's Eve, 1967, between the Packers and Dallas Cowboys. It's still one of my favorite games of all time, and many have called it the greatest game ever.

I was only 6-years-old at the time, so to say that I remember everything about that game would be a lie. But I do remember it, and watching in amazement as the teams met in -15 degree temperatures. The wind chill was almost 30 degrees colder than that.

As a young boy from Alabama, my brain couldn't fathom those temperatures. I had no idea how the players could even breath out there, much less play in that. But even then, they had technology to make the conditions playable (allegedly).

Lambeau Field had a turf-heating system that was supposed to keep the ground from freezing. Unfortunately, it somehow malfunctioned, and when the tarp was removed from the field, there was excess moisture that immediately froze, making the surface more conducive for the Stanley Cup Final than the NFL Championship Game.

Who's Afraid of the Loud Angry Black Man?

By - Tim Swift

Days after a thrilling NFC Championship Game, I'm still bothered by the way a lot of the country sees Seattle's Richard Sherman.

Photo by: Tony Overman

My initial reaction while watching Sherman's postgame interview at a friend's house was that of sheer laughter. We actually rewound the DVR and watched it several more times because we thought it was so funny. Far too often we get some generic scripted interview after a game that the player doesn't even really mean. I was happy that someone showed some real, raw emotion moments afterwards.

During the interview with Erin Andrews, Sherman proclaimed that he was the best corner in the league, and that Michael Crabtree was a "sorry" receiver. Within a matter of minutes, Twitter and the rest of the internet exploded as if Sherman was public enemy No. 1, and the worst thing to ever happen to sports. It was almost alarming the reactions that people had to a football player, playing a game.

Some of the issues between the two started last year, when reportedly Sherman tried to shake Crabtree's hand at a charity event hosted by Larry Fitzgerald and the wideout refused to reciprocate. Much of the animosity has nothing to do with football, so I wasn't all that shocked when Sherman reacted the way he did after getting the best of his rival to clinch a berth to the Super Bowl.

Sherman was a 5th round pick out of Stanford in 2011, and part of the reason that he plays with such a chip on his shoulder is because he felt that he fell entirely too far in the draft and was better than many of the guys that were taken ahead of him.

Last year, after Seattle's win over New England, Sherman got in Tom Brady's grill, presumably to tell him how great he thinks he is, and that moment was captured in a photo that blew up on Twitter after the cornerback added the caption, "U Mad Bro?" For all intents and purposes, that was the moment Richard Sherman became a household name in NFL circles.

For people who like their sports without a racial discussion, avert your eyes. If say, Brady or Peyton Manning had the same reaction as Sherman in one of their postgame interviews, would there been this type of reaction? Absolutely not. An example; after New England lost to Carolina on Monday Night Football earlier this season, Brady followed the officiating crew up the tunnel off the field, and he sure as hell wasn't congratulating them for a well officiated game. The media didn't blow that up into a huge story.

A New and Improved Pro Bowl?

By - Keith Smith

Does everyone have their DVR set so they don't miss the big Pro Bowl Draft next week, in anticipation to see who will play for Team Rice and Team Deion?

Yeah, me neither.

Photo by: Getty Images

I don't mean to make light of the NFL's effort to spice things up. In fact, I applaud them for trying something different with this year's contest. Everyone who knows what a football even looks like has known forever that the yearly gathering of players in Hawaii was more of a vacation for them and their families than it was a real game.

I'm just not sure this new mixing of the leagues will be the winning formula.

Of course, for it to be a winning formula, we would need to know what the formula is, and as late as Thursday, things still seemed to be changing. The league announced yesterday that the top two vote getters from each conference (offense and defense) not on any of the teams participating in the title games this Sunday would be named team captains. Even though we still don't know which team they will be on.

Drew Brees and Robert Quinn (both from the NFC) will be captains for one team, while J.J. Watt and Jamaal Charles (AFC) will captain the other. I can only assume that this will make them co-No. 1 picks in this draft?

Not according to the NFL. Apparently, they'll be assigned to the teams prior to the draft and will assist alumni captains Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders in the draft process, although all final decisions will lie with Rice and Sanders. Add to all this the fact that Sanders announced earlier this week that he plans to suit up for the game, and you have one discombobulated mess.

It comes across as the league trying way too hard to make this game interesting for the fans, and the long and short of it is that no matter how you mix these great players together, if they don't want to give it their all once the game starts, the smoke and mirrors beforehand won't matter a bit.

I don't think we will see another all-star type game in any sport ever matter again. Once players in all sports became highly paid entertainers instead of athletes who needed offseason jobs to make ends meet, the desire to perform well in exhibitions was gone. It's why preseason games and spring training games in baseball don't mean anything, either.

Conference Championship Predictions

By - Brad Heerschop

It's really a bittersweet time of year. On one hand, it's the best weekend of football the NFL season has to offer, at least in my opinion. On the other, it means we're only left with two weeks of North America's most popular sport. Unless you count the Pro Bowl, that is. And if you do, you shouldn't.

The upside is that the football gods have smiled on us and left the fans with two of the best matchups in recent memory for the conference title games.

Photo from: yahoo.com

My goal last week was to call a perfect slate of games, and I accomplished just that. I did, however, take all of the favorites, so I'm not about to crown myself as some sort of genius. That said, I am 7 of 8 so far, and if I can pull out another perfect week here, it may be time for my invite to the NFL's version of Mensa.

But I digress. Without any further delays, I bring you my predictions for this weekend's festivities.

- New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Running back LeGarrette Blount had a field day on Saturday, running all over the Indianapolis Colts, as the Patriots took care of Indy in convincing fashion, 43-22. Blount racked up 166 yards and 4 touchdowns in the win. Tom Brady wasn't his usual lights out self, throwing for just 198 yards and zero scores. However, with only 25 passing attempts, it's clear the Patriots can be a team that runs the ball as well as they pass it. Overall, New England carried the ball 46 times for 234 yards. Impressive numbers, but they seem to be the norm as of late, considering the team has managed an average of 214.3 yards on the ground over their last three contests. The other component to the success of New England last week was their turnover margin of plus 4, a number they would be more than happy to repeat against Denver.

The Broncos racked up 363 yards of total offense on Sunday, in a 24-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers. Peyton Manning put up 230 yards and 2 touchdowns against his divisional rival, but the offense was a shadow of what we've become accustomed to this season. Their record-setting 37.9 points per game and their average total yards of 457.3 were nowhere close to being matched, against a sub-par defense. Alas, they managed to pull out the win, but amazingly got it done through solid defense of their own. Denver allowed only 259 yards to the Chargers, the lowest total of any team last weekend, despite their 19th-ranked regular season defense. To beat New England, they'll need to be good on both sides of the ball. A defensive repeat would be welcomed with open arms, but their offense needs to turn it back up as well. Now at 8-1 for the season playing at Sports Authority Field, it's their game to lose.

The old adage is that at its core, football is quarterback vs. quarterback, and this game is the classic tale of just that. The two best signal callers of their generation and arguably of all time, are meeting on the AFC's largest stage for the third time in their great careers. Their teams split those games, and Brady and the Patriots beat Peyton and the Colts in their only non-AFC Championship Game to date. Let's assume they both get in the Hall of Fame, considering it's just a formality at this point anyway. Once they do, this game will become only the second instance in history that two Hall of Fame quarterbacks met in the playoffs multiple times, with one of them donning a different jersey than before. The other duo? Joe Montana and Dan Marino. If that doesn't put it in perspective just how great these guys are at their craft, I'm afraid that nothing will. However, I don't buy into all of that. There is no doubt that the quarterback is the most important player on the field, but this game isn't Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. It's a chess match between two fantastic teams, and they're simply pieces on the board.

NFL Divisional Round Predictions

By - Brad Heerschop

Last weekend we were treated to two great days of NFL football. With the exception of the Chargers-Bengals snoozefest, each game of Wild Card Weekend was settled in the final seconds, and decided by 3 points or less.

That said, yours truly went 3 of 4, and this week I'm aiming for a perfect slate. So without further ado, I bring you my predictions for the second round of the NFL playoffs.

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- New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

The Saints are coming off their first road playoff victory in franchise history. Suffice it to say Drew Brees finally silenced his critics, albeit for only 7 days. New Orleans has changed their game plan as of late, having ran the ball 32 times per game in their last three contests. Last time they played in Seattle, they only carried it 17 times as a team.

The Seahawks locked down the NFC's No. 1 seed with a 13-3 mark on the season. They were almost perfect at home again this year, going 7-1 at CenturyLink Field. Football's loudest building is also its most difficult to play in. It's safe to say that anything short of the franchise's first Super Bowl victory this year will be a failure in the eyes of most Seahawks faithful.

On paper, the matchup is fairly even. While the Seahawks dominate on defense (1st in points allowed and 1st in yards allowed), the Saints are no scrubs in that department either (4th in both categories). On offense, the edge goes to the Saints by a long shot in the yards department, but Seattle still managed to outscore New Orleans for the season. The Seahawks absolutely dominated the last time the two teams met back in Week 13 to the tune of a 34-17 victory. With rain expected this Saturday and temperatures hovering around 45 degrees, the Seahawks appear to have more in their favor than just home field advantage. While the Saints may have turned a corner by finally winning a postseason game away from the dome, I just don't think they have another win left in their tank. The "12th man" will be too much for them to overcome.

Seahawks: 31, Saints: 21

- Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

Indy erased a 28-point deficit last weekend and fought their way to the second round with an impressive 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Shortly after the victory they hit the free agent market to find former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch to add to their arsenal. Branch might be washed up, but one thing the former Patriot knows is New England football, namely Tom Brady. It appears the Colts picked up Branch for an inside edge, and it's possible they may have some tricks up their sleeves for their rivals.

For the first time in his career, Tom Brady took every snap this season for the Patriots, leading them to a 12-4 record. With a surrounding cast on offense full of scrubs, Brady did what he does best and carried the Pats on his shoulders all the way to their 2nd-place finish in the AFC. They finished 3rd in the NFL in points per game (27.8) and 7th in yards per (384.5). Their defense left something to be desired and they didn't blow teams out like they usually do, but they still found ways to win.

The Patriots have had the Colts number since 2001, holding a 10-5 record in head-to-head matchups. They've won the last 3 meetings between the clubs, most recently matching a franchise record in points with a 59-24 beat down last season. In Andrew Luck's only career game against New England, he was out-dueled by New England's crafty veteran under center, as Brady threw for 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. While the Colts were decent on the road at 5-3, New England is just too good in Foxboro, holding a perfect 8-0 record. With an expected high of 48 degrees and a possibility of rain, the stars seemed to be lined up for yet another postseason victory for the Patriots.

Patriots: 33, Colts: 28

Peyton Manning Must Produce This Postseason

By - Benjamin Lincecum

Peyton Manning. You will probably not find many people that will argue that he's not one of the best, if not the best, regular season quarterback of all time. His records and accomplishments are many and varied.

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Currently, Peyton is in the middle of one of the most spectacular seasons any quarterback has ever had. The 2013 campaign has seen Manning surpass two of the most significant records the NFL tracks. He demolished Tom Brady's single-season touchdown pass mark, and also surpassed Drew Brees' record for passing yards in a season as well.

Manning led a very talented Denver team to a division title, the best record in the AFC, and numerous team records. He's also potentially in line to join his oft mentioned nemesis Brady as the only other unanimous MVP in league history.

And none of it will matter if he loses this weekend.

I say that with a large amount of trepidation, as Manning and myself are both sons of the greatest city known to man, New Orleans. I've always been a Peyton apologist, and followed his career carefully. Until Drew came to New Orleans, Manning was my favorite QB in the league, and to this day, I still love seeing him succeed on the field.

The debates between my friends, both in real life and on the internet, have been wild and numerous. Peyton's numbers speak for themselves in the regular season, but so do his statistics in the postseason. I always find it disingenuous to put a QB's playoff record entirely on him alone, as playoff and Super Bowl wins and losses are team achievements or failures. However, when you look at the same metrics that make Peyton incredible in the regular season, they point to an incredibly different reality come playoff time. These numbers cannot simply be ignored or explained away since we have a large enough sampling to determine that Manning without question struggles in the postseason.

As crazy as it may sound, this year will not be enough to advance the narrative of Peyton Manning's greatness without significant advancement in the playoffs, and probably a Super Bowl win. Manning draws generational comparisons to Tom Brady, who is stellar in the postseason. He has played in five Super Bowls and won three, with both of those losses coming, ironically enough, to Peyton's younger brother Eli. Brady's playoff numbers are much better than Peyton's any way you slice it, and he has the hardware and records to boot.

Brady himself has had an incredible season, leading a team of virtual nobodies to the playoffs as the second seed behind Peyton's Broncos. Supporters of Brady have long pointed out, much to the chagrin of people like myself, that Manning's struggles in the postseason are a strike against him and a huge mark in favor of Brady in the overall career argument. During the 2007 season, Brady really turned it on as the Patriots morphed into a different monster, and we saw Brady start carving out his own niche as a stat machine, like Manning.

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

By - Brad Heerschop

The NFL regular season is officially a wrap. Seventeen weeks of football and 256 NFL games in the books. The weak have been weeded out and we're left with twelve teams competing for Super Bowl XLVIII.

Returning from last season's playoffs are the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Colts, 49ers, Packers and Seahawks. There are five teams new to the party this year in the Chiefs, Chargers, Panthers, Saints and Eagles, who round out the postseason participants.

On any given Sunday, we all know that any team can win a game, so the following predictions are by no means a lock for you to go and bet the farm on. Nonetheless, I'll do my best to predict each round of this year's quest for the Lombardi Trophy, starting with Wild Card Weekend.

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- Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

The Chiefs came out of the gate screaming, running off a 9-0 start to the 2013 season. Impressive, when you consider the team won all of two times last year. They slowed up a bit at the end of the season, though, going 2-5 in their last 7 games to finish 11-5.

The Colts finished 11-5 for the second-straight year. The difference this season, is they had absolutely zero competition in their division, and by virtue of winning the AFC South, they have been awarded a home playoff game. Indianapolis has been inconsistent and have found themselves on the receiving end of some blowouts, including their worst home defeat since 2003 against the lowly St. Louis Rams, 38-8.

Indy went into Arrowhead and beat the Chiefs in their own building back on December 22nd. The game was never really in question, with the Colts laying a 23-7 drubbing on Kansas City. However, there is that old cliche that the playoffs are a brand new season. While I agree with that sentiment, I still like Indy's chances in this one. I've got them winning, albeit in less convincing fashion than the last time they met.

Colts: 24, Chiefs: 19

- New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles

The Saints finished last season at a dismal 7-9, good for last place in the NFC South. However, they are a much different team without their head coach, as the return of Sean Payton brought them to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in 2013. New Orleans has always had an explosive offense, but the difference this year has been their defense, which has turned things around in a major way. Last season, they allowed a league-worst 440.1 yards per game. This year? 305.7 yards per, good for 4th-best in the league.

From NFC least to NFC beast, the 4-12 Eagles of 2012 are no more. Philly's offense has been rejuvenated under head coach Chip Kelly and sophomore phenom quarterback Nick Foles. Add to that equation a rushing title for LeSean McCoy and you've got a formula for winning football games. The Eagles won the NFC East with a mark of 10-6 and find themselves with a home playoff game on Saturday night.

Since 2001, the Saints hold a 4-2 edge over the Eagles head-to-head. Most recently, they defeated Philadelphia on November 5th, 2012 by a score of 28-13. However, these are two very different teams than they were last season, and it's no secret that the Saints are a much different squad on the road than at home. Drew Brees has yet to win a playoff game away from the Superdome in his storied career, and with the cold weather in Philly, I don't expect that to change.

Eagles: 31, Saints: 23

NFL Postseason Seedings: Too Much Emphasis on Winning Your Division

By - Benjamin Lincecum

A hot topic this time of year is always the NFL postseason format, and the same question is continually being posed; should division winners receive higher seeds and home games regardless of their regular season records compared to the wild card teams?

Photo from: cbssports.com

Really, why have divisions at all? Why have automatic bids when you could skip straight to allowing the teams with the best records into the playoffs? In truth, it's hard to defend the current format that grants so much importance and heaps so many rewards on division winners. Winning your division is important, but does that fact make one team better than another?

The NFL weighs nearly everything on a team's record. Currently, aside from wild cards, this is the way teams are seeded in the playoffs. The division winner with the best record gets the top seed. It's also how the division winners are decided in general. It's how ties between teams who finish with the same record are broken. It even decides who wins the wild card, and how those ties are broken as well.

It's difficult to comprehend how a team's record is so important in so many of these occasions, yet has no real bearing on how teams are seeded once the playoffs start.

One of the more recent examples is the 2010 Saints having to travel to the 7-9 division-winning Seahawks for their opening round playoff game. New Orleans sported an 11-5 record, which included a victory over Seattle and the rest of their division during the regular season. Because Atlanta had one more victory than the Saints, though, they rightly finished second in their own division.

However, that record would have found them in a tie with Chicago for the second-best mark in the conference. But instead of having the second or third seed and hosting a playoff game, they were forced to travel to Seattle, where they ultimately lost in a wild affair.

Even this season. The Saints and 49ers are on the road in the first round facing teams they had better records than during the regular season. New Orleans won one more game than Philadelphia, while the Niners won four more than the Packers. Four.

Obviously, there are good reasons for division winners to receive automatic bids to the playoffs despite their records. This helps keep geographic interest in the postseason and provides the NFL with a much wider viewer number. Still, I can't see how one can justify a team getting a home game because of this.

Aaron Hernandez: 4th and 25 to Life

By - Brad Heerschop

Okay, so the title is still a work in progress and the story isn't mine to sell, but if it were, Hollywood could make me a very rich man. Alas, I am sad to report that I still don't know how this intriguing tale will end.

What amazes me is that a movie about Aaron Hernandez has yet to be made. We all know it's just a matter of time until some big name producer gives us what promises to be the best gangster movie since The Godfather.

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Although it's no longer on most people's minds, if you have been paying attention, the Aaron Hernandez saga becomes more and more gripping all the time.

So, what happened this week to cause Hernandez's name to highlight the headlines of NFL drama yet again? As the former Pro Bowl tight end awaits trial from a jail cell, yet another person associated with him has been discovered dead.

According to the Hartford Courant, 27-year-old Tabitha Perry was found unconscious and not breathing inside a home in Southington, Connecticut on December 16th. Police are awaiting further toxicology tests, but Perry's death is not considered suspicious.

Regardless, it has to raise eyebrows, considering this is the third person with ties to Hernandez that has died in recent months. Not included in the three is Odin Lloyd, the man Hernandez is accused of murdering.

Perry's connection to the former Florida Gator is one that requires some tracing, but when the connections are made, it's certainly something that should at the very least rouse curiosity from the authorities.

In late June, Thaddeus Singleton III was killed in a car crash in Farmington, Connecticut, a town located just outside of Bristol, where Hernandez resides. His vehicle went airborne and somehow got lodged in the side of a country club building.

While Singleton did not survive the crash, his passenger, Tabitha Perry, did. The two had a child together, but Singleton was married to one Tanya Singleton, Hernandez's cousin, who just happens to be facing charges for being an accessory in the murder of Odin Lloyd.

Thankful For Football This Holiday Season

By - Sandra Nevins

Family, food and football. For me, these are things that are synonymous with Thanksgiving. I try to be mindful of the many blessings in my life on a daily basis, but on Thanksgiving Day, I am reminded of why I'm thankful for the game.

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Learning about the sport has opened a door for me that most women will never access. It's like being granted special inclusion to an exclusive club, and ever since I gained entry, I've reaped the benefits.

My father was the person responsible for my initial education of football. It happened when I was around 11-years-old and was sick one Sunday during autumn. I was resting on the couch and, of course, Dad had football on the TV all day, much to my annoyance. But since I was a captive audience, I began asking him questions about the game. He very patiently answered them and my interest grew. We started watching games together after that. Dad even taught me how to throw a football with a perfect spiral.

A father/daughter relationship during her teenage years is tenuous. During these difficult times, the one thing we could always talk about was football. He took me to Mile High Stadium numerous times, and we enjoyed watching John Elway's patented come-from-behind victories. Every game I attended, Denver won. Spending time with my Dad back then remains some of my fondest memories.

As I matured and my understanding of the game progressed, I found that football was an avenue to initiate conversations with men. I never tire of the looks of surprise on their faces when I start talking about the game. It doesn't take long to win them over, to earn their respect, and enjoy a camaraderie with them.

Football has helped me forge many friendships. By playing fantasy football with co-workers or joining sports debate groups on Facebook, I've enjoyed being one of the guys, so to speak. In dating scenarios, I've dropped my football knowledge to impress men. Works like a charm, too.

Football has strengthened my relationship with my 20-year-old son as well. When he sees that I'm watching a game, he will stop what he's doing and watch with me for a bit. If his phone rings, he will always tell the caller, "I'm watching football with my mom, I'll call you later." I can hear the pride in his voice. He sometimes seeks my advice regarding start/sit options for his fantasy team. It's a special way to interact with him, since I highly doubt most mothers give out fantasy football advice.