Don’t believe it’s over, yet
Posted on 29. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
By now, of course, you’ve heard the news. The media outlets have covered every angle of the Brett Favre saga, in nauseating detail. We’ve now been told by Brad Childress himself, that good ‘ol #4 ain’t comin’ back. Apparently Favre doesn’t feel like his body could withstand the rigors of a 16 game season again. Excuse me if I’m wrong here, but this makes no sense. I’m not convinced.
Call it “the boy who cried wolf” syndrome, but how can we beLIEve anything that Favre says at this point. He waffles more than a politician, and simply has very little credibility left. When news broke earlier this offseason that he’d had the surgery to repair his injured biceps tendon, we here in Minnesota saw the writing on the wall. Favre was coming to town. People even started printing #4 jerseys in purple, and they didn’t say “Booty” on the back of them. Favre got all of our hopes up, including his potential teammates and Vikings ownership. A season with Favre could mean a helluva lot to this city, and even more to this franchise.
Maybe I’m guilty of being too much of an optimist. Or too much of a pessimist, depending on how you see this latest development. But I think there is a distinct possibility that Favre is just orchestrating this thing like the media master he is. Look, the guy doesn’t see any reason he should live in a dorm room in Mankato, even if it is just for two weeks. The team wants Brett to come in for training camp, but Favre holds all of the cards. Public sentiment is powerful here in the Twin Cities, and your average fan doesn’t believe Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels can lead this squad to anything meaningful in the way of postseason success. Blackouts loom large. Stadiums still need to be funded. If Favre changes his mind in a few weeks, and there’s no indication he won’t, the club would be crazy not to welcome him with open arms.
It’s OK to fly the purple flags halfway up the pole today people, but I urge you: Don’t believe it’s over just yet. After all, Favre still says he’ll keep throwing…
Podcast #1
Posted on 25. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Podcasts
Podcasts are going to be a big part of what we do here at GoHuddleUp.com, so give it a spin and send me your feedback. Enjoy…
Are you ready?
Posted on 24. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
If you are stopping by GoHuddleUp.com at this point, chances are strong that you are a true NFL fan. And since the site just launched last week, chances are also strong that you know me, personally. Both things are good. I’m an NFL fan too, but you know that, because as I mentioned, you know me. I’ve loved football for as long as I can remember. Watched my first Super Bowl 25 years ago, and have been hooked in ever since. So it should come as no surprise to you, or to me for that matter, that I’m giddy with excitement right now. I’ve waited since February for more NFL action, and my wife cancelled the NFL Network in the meantime, so I’ve really been deprived. There’s just nothing else like it when the cycle to starts to spin. Sure the games are still more than six weeks away, but for a true NFL junkie, that matters very little. The National Football League is the apple of America’s eye, and it ain’t all because of the on-field action.
Rookies have already started reporting to training camps, and the thing is going to be full-blown hectic beginning this weekend. Who will hold out? Who will dazzle in camp and move up? Who will get injured? Traded? The list goes on and on. What will happen with Brett Favre? Makato is going to be insane. Will some team give Michael Vick a second chance? Will Vick get reinstated? What about Plaxico Burress? How will TO look in Buffalo? His TV show is only going to add to the attention. Which new coaches will start strong, and which will wobble early in their tenures? The list goes on and on. The questions are endless, really, and the biggest story of the preseason is probably something we haven’t even thought about yet. Like who will be indicted on murder charges? Who will get busted for pot? Which player fails a UA first? And could we possibly hear about the Whizzinator again this year? Or dog fighting? The possibilities are endless, and for a blogger like me, that’s a great thing.
The point is simple. This league dominates all others because the stories are so intriguing. The media coverage blankets our entire nation, and just about anyone you meet on the street is can at least vaguely talk about some aspect of America’s new passtime. The wife is gonna have to deal. It’s time to turn the NFL Network back on…
And believe it or not, while I was writing this very article, my kids alerted me that the bigscreen I’ve owned since 2001 just stopped working. The thing has been on the fritz for a couple of years now, and I’ve paid repairmen to fix it several times. I think it’s gone for good now though; it’s limping days are over. If it were any other time of year it wouldn’t matter. I don’t need to watch the evening news on 55-inches of HD glory. Large TV’s were made to watch football on, and my large TV has just failed me. I guess I’ll be heading to Best Buy soon enough too.
I can’t wait for football season to start, and for a NFL freak like me, it’s starting as we speak. I’m ready… are you?
Don’t forget the cheese
Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
Something is missing...
Yesterday I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a high class restaurant, one of my favorite places to dine. I placed my order at the counter, said “King Size it”, and then took my tasty vittles to a nearby seating area for the culinary experience of the afternoon. Mouth watering, I anticipated the first bite of this establishment’s signature dish, and it’s flame-broiled detectability. But I made myself wait. I forced myself to enjoy the crispy accoutrements first, with lots of ketchup of course. All the while the excitement grew, as the culmination of the meal was yet to come. Finally, upon unwrapping the Whopper in all of it’s glory, I could wait no longer. Taking a large bite was inevitable, as that’s just the way I roll. But wait, what prey tell was the problem? Something was amiss. The burger had disappointed me, and disappointed me badly. The kind lady behind the counter wasn’t to blame, but she soon drew my ire as I explained. The drop-out in the back had made a monumental mistake. Someone had forgotten the cheese.
While reflecting on this scenario much later, I came up with the concept for an article. The tie-in is obvious. Forgetting the cheese is unforgivable.
This offseason, three teams in the NFC North have made major changes. The Bears sent shock waves through the division with their trade for Denver QB Jay Cutler. The Lions overhauled their whole front office, added a new coaching regime, and picked QB of the future Matt Stafford with the top selection in April’s draft. The Vikings have flirted with Brett Favre for months now, and his signing will likely be the single biggest offseason story once it actually happens. Just one team in the division, the Packers, have stayed in the background since ‘08 ended. For that reason, among many others, people are forgetting about Wisconsin. Thus overlooking the cheese.
Green Bay could easily win this division in 2009, and may even end up being one of the best teams in the NFC. The peices are all in place. Aaron Rodgers silenced his critics last season by starting all 16 games and playing at a high level. Greg Jennings is a budding star, Donald Driver is still effective, and Jordy Nelson has shown a ton of promise so Rodgers has targets aplenty. The running game should also be improved this year as Ryan Grant will report to camp on time and should avoid injury as a result. The defense, while not overwhelming, will be solid. The switch to the 3-4 could cause some problems early, but the team has skilled playmakers in Aaron Kampman, AJ Hawk, Nick Barnett, Nick Collins, Charles Woodson and Al Harris so I assume they’ll get acclimated to the scheme soon enough. The club has some questions to answer, but the pieces are in place.
I’m not saying Green Bay will be an elite squad this season. But I do think that people are overlooking them. Look, I hate the Packers as much as anyone possibly could. Still, we shouldn’t forget the cheese. Now back to my breakfast. MMMM…. I love McGriddles. Carry on.
The future is NOW in Atlanta
Posted on 20. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
With Matty Ice at the helm, the sky is the limit.
Just two years ago the Falcons were rudderless and floundering. Their star QB and franchise cornerstone, Mike Vick, was imprisoned for dog fighting. Thier coach, Bobby Petrino, quit abruptly and returned to the collegiate ranks with his tail firmly between his legs. Apparently, Vick had beaten him down too. It appeared that the franchise would take years to turn around as the talent had eroded and leadership had vanished instantaneously. My how things can change in a hurry.
Owner Arthur Blank deserves a lot of credit. He’s got hair that looks like the Fonz, but heeeeeeeeey, he was cool when it counted most. He chose a little-known coach in Mike Smith, and handed the franchise over to a rookie QB in Matt Ryan. Those calls saved the franchise. The addition of workhorse tailback Michael Turner ended up being one of the biggest free agent signings of the 2008 offseason. Roddy White magically transformed from a mediocre talent to a Pro Bowler. Nobody would have even thought this club could make the playoffs last season, but that is precisely what the Falcons did. Now, as 2009 approaches, expectations are as high as the optimism was at the end of last season.
Not satisfied with the status quo, Blank added veteran TE Tony Gonzalez during the offseason. Gonzalez, who came over from the Chiefs, promises to add another weapon to an already dangerous offense. Gonzalez has had high praises for Matt Ryan, who is turning heads as he enters his second season. NFL.com senior writer Pat Kirwan recently reported that Ryan has added muscle to his frame during the offseason; this just the latest in a long line of positive reports about the BC product’s work ethic. Ryan has also drawn praise from coaches for his dedication to film sessions in the months of February and March, where the rookie supposedly poured over every play from the ‘08 campaign dissecting each read and decision. Positivity abounds.
It appears the future is now in Atlanta, but what should fantasy owners do about drafting these playmakers? The high level of optimism is also driving up the prices on all of the Falcons key components. Fear not fantasy freaks, I’m here to tell you what to expect from the core playmakers in the A-T-L. For if you land the right mix, you could be doing the Dirty-Bird yourself this season.
QB, Matt Ryan- Ryan’s detractors will cite his mere 16 TD’s last season as reason enough to pass on Matty Ice as your fantasy starter. Those detractors are missing the point. Coach Smith held the reigns tightly on Ryan for the first part of the season, which curtailed his production. After failing to notch a single 200-yard passing game through the first five weeks, Ryan erupted over his next nine games. During that stretch, he averaged a staggering 254 yards per game. As a rookie. Also, this season Ryan will benefit tremendously from the addition of Gonzalez, who promises to add six or seven TD’s to Ryan’s total alone. When you consider that Ryan had one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in the history of the QB position, it’s easy to see that he is a tremendous value in fantasy play this year. He’s proving that he’s got an insatiable desire to win, and the skills required to do just that. If you nab Matt as the ninth or tenth QB taken in your draft, you will have landed a major peice to your fantasy puzzle. Trust me, at that ranking, Ryan is undervalued.
RB, Micahel Turner- Was there a bigger surpise at fantasy’s most important position last season than this guy? DeAngelo lovers may make a case, but unlike the late-surging Williams, Turner was legit from week one. His stellar nose for the endzone had him outproduce Adrian Peterson by a sizable margin, and is causing some owners to feel safe in drafting the former Charger with the #1 overall pick. That would be a monumental mistake. Not that Turner isn’t capable of replicating last season’s numbers, but it just doesn’t seem likely. First off, you’ve got to remember that the club used a run-heavy scheme, in part, to protect the aforementioned Ryan during his rookie campaign. That’s going to change. Then you also have to factor in versatile backup Jerious Norwood, who will see an increase in opportunities as the club has vowed to relieve Turner more frequently this season. Which brings me to my final point: as last seasons leader in carries, Turner is a risk for injury. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is a bonafide stud with high TD potential. I just believe he’s not going to be quite as productive in ‘09.
WR, Roddy White- Two seasons ago White looked like he was going to be a total bust in the NFL. While he salvaged his career in 2007, last season he became a star. White is now being taken as a #1 fantasy receiver, and for good reason. He’s vertically explosive, has great hands, makes catches in traffic and is the total package. Oh, and he’s only going to get better as Ryan matures. Roddy deserves top-5 consideration in dynasty formats, as his run is just getting started. I don’t necessarily see a huge spike in his production this season, but fantasy owners should rest assured that he’ll at least duplicate his Pro Bowl numbers from last year. That makes White a surefire weekly starter in fantasyland, and gives you every reason to feel safe starting him as your #1 receiver on a weekly basis. Remarkably, Roddy’s ceiling is actually much higher with very little risk of him falling off.
TE, Tony Gonzalez- Gonzo got his wish this offseason and was traded to a contender. He will be an instant upgrade over what the team had at the position last season, and will quickly become Matt Ryan’s favorite target on third downs. In fact, I think Gonzalez helps Ryan’s fantasy value more than the move to Atlanta helps the future HOF’er. See, as a Chief, Gonzo was often the only real option in the passing game. That won’t be the case here with the Birds. There’s just no way Gonzalez approaches 100 catches with an offense this loaded around him. Sure, the TD’s are going to be there. Probably 6-8 of them. But I’m guessing the yardage totals we’ve come to expect from Tony G fall off sharply. People taking him as the #2 TE behind Witten will be very sorry they passed on Gates. Think solid, not spectacular.
RB, Jerious Norwood- Don’t sleep on Norwood’s big play potential. The speed this guy posesses is elite. He’s faster on the field than I am in the buffet line, and in the right crease, J-Wood is going to take it to the house. The club has been scheming up extra ways to get Norwood the ball, so he could develop into a poor mans Leon Washington. Problem is, Washington himself is kinda poor. That means fantasy owners will never be able to start him with absolute confidence. If Michael Turner were to suffer injury, Norwood could be effective over a short period. But he runs to upright to ever be a feature back in this league, and thus he’s most valuable when cuffed to the beefy Turner.
WR, Michael Jenkins- The Falcons were elated with Jenkins’ development last season. In prior seasons, while working with stiffs like Michael Vick and Joey Harrington, Jenkins seemed to drop everything thrown his way. Ryan should be credited with Jenkins’ resurrection. Jenkins flourished under the rookie’s leadership, and made crucial plays in the clutch. Just ask any Bears fan about the sideline grab he made with the clock winding down in what proved to be one of the more dramatic moments of the season. Jenkins should improve on his numbers somewhat this year, but shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a #4 WR in most formats. You could certainly do worse with a late-round flyer.
Isn’t it amazing how much can change in just one year? This club went from laughing stock to serious contender seemingly overnight. Yes, the future is NOW in Atlanta. Fantasy championships can be won this season with these players on your roster. Just keep your expectations for Gonzo and Turner in check and you’ll be pleased.
The problem with the world today
Posted on 19. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Blog
All any of us really have is our time.
The problem with the world today is simple, yet inexorably complex. It boils down to one simple concept, yet we can’t wrap our minds around that to save our souls. The concept is there before us each day. In fact, it makes up each day. The problem with the world today is time, or lack of it. Twenty-four hours, that’s all anyone gets, and yet, we are forced to carve out careers, relationships, build and amass fortunes, all as our most precious resource slips away. At the end of the day and at the completion of our tasks, we hope to fit some sort of leisure into our hectic schedules, of course, if time permits. We basically have to plan to be impulsive these days:
“Hey honey, lets do something wild and crazy… something on the spur of the moment. Yeah, Thursday night at 7 works great for me.”
See, when you boil it down, what commodity do any of us have that is more important than our time? The American Dream has become a true nightmare. In our pursuit of boxed happiness, we’ve traded that which really matters for what we’ve been told will make us happy. That bigger house, that newer car, that slimmer figure. Each pursuit costs us time on the treadmill, figuratively or literally. And I hate treadmills. Figuratively and literally. The elusive nature of our own goals can cause real pain. I believe that pain comes, in large part, because each of us knows a very unpleasant truth. At the end of each day we’ve spent something we’ll never get back. We’ve handed over, of our own free will, our most precious asset… our time.
I’m a busy guy. I’ve got a beautiful wife (I promise, no more Kim Kardashian pics on the new site honey), three great kids, and I am a full-time student with a full time job. I’m also heavily involved in playing music at my church and have an admitted addiction to fantasy football. Each one of these things takes up my time. Rather, I give my time, of my own choosing, to each of these things I value. I’m also pledging some of my time to this new website: GoHuddleUp.com.
GoHuddleUp has a nice ring to it. Rolls off the tongue. But it’s also got a bit of a deeper meaning, and I’m feeling that more now than ever. You see, in the huddle, plans are made. In the huddle, revisions happen based upon the current situation. I’ve been involved in several “fantasy football only” sites throughout my career, and I’ve loved the ride. However, I started feeling like those weren’t making the best use of my most precious asset: my time.
So let me thank you, my reader, for spending your time here with me on GoHuddleUp.com. I know you are sacrificing something else to be here. I think it’s only fair of me then to explain to you, I don’t know where this journey is taking me. I know football. It’s in my pocket. I’ve also got interest in a much wider array of topics, which I hope to discuss here. So it’s back to the huddle for me, back to assess that which really matters. I know I can punch out Sports Newsbreakers until the cows come home. That’s not a challenge any longer. But here at GoHuddleUp.com, I’m wanting to go deeper. What that means exactly, I do not know. I can’t take off those old clothes and put on new ones instantaneously. I do know this journey is going to be an adventure.
The problem with the world today is simple. We waste our most precious seconds all too often. I’m just as guilty as the next guy, and it haunts me too. So as I move forward in life, I’m really trying to take account. To make each thing I invest in be worthy of my investment. I believe GoHuddleUp is more than just a football site. It’s a chance for me to reach a little bit deeper. To pry back the layers, into who I really am. Hopefully, I’ll bring some of you along for the ride. Thanks for the time.
Getcha popcorn ready
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
Say what you want, but T.O. has always been entertaining
Over the past decade, very few NFL players have reached the level of infamy Bills WR Terrell Owens has. From his days as a 49er, when he outed then QB Jeff Garcia, to his tour in Philly where he accused Donovan McNabb of folding in the Super Bowl, Owens has always loved him some him. Never shy when camera’s are around, most observers have had a hard time believing anything T.O. says. Who can trust a guy like Owens anyway? From the Drew Rosenhaus “Next Question” episode, to sit-ups in the driveway, to an attempted suicide rumor with the Cowboys, Owens has always put on a show.
Now, with the 2009 season approaching, he’s putting on a show of a different kind. Owens’ reality TV Show is set to lift off on Monday night on VH-1. He swears that the cameras have captured the “reality” behind one of the most misunderstood players in NFL history. The show supposedly lets the viewer in on Owens, the man, instead of the human drama machine we know as T.O.
I’ve never been much of a reality TV guy. Save for a few seasons of Survivor, I’d prefer to watch sports or news on the tube. Although, I will want to see Owens’ show. See, T.O. has something magnetic about him. That special “what’s he going to do next” factor that just keeps people enthralled. I’m guessing it’s pretty entertaining, because Owens has always shined in the limelight. Remember the sharpie? Still, his VH-1 special is just the beginning. This 35 year-old WR will have our attention again all season long.
Owens is set to make his Bills debut on National TV, under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. Yep, in week one his Buffalo squad will face off against Randy Moss’ New England Patriots. Have his skills diminished? Only time tell, but Owens did put up nearly 3,600 yards and 38 TD’s during his three year run in Dallas. Is his supporting cast going to catre to his diva image? Hard to say, but with Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson around, defenses wont be able to key solely on Owens.
It’s to early to tell whether or not T.O. will succeed in Buffalo this season. We’ll have to wait and see. But one thing is for sure… it’s bound to be entertaining. I’ll pop a batch of Redenbachers on Monday night for the VH-1 kickoff, and I’m guessing the show won’t end until the Bills are officially eliminated from the playoffs. Love him or hate him, Owens makes us take note.
Has Romo gone insane?
Posted on 17. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
Romo, you're the man...
Say what you want about Cowboys QB Tony Romo and his late-season struggles. There’s one arena where cat has had nothing but success since bursting on the scene a few years back: Romo has been pure gold with the ladies. Carrie Underwood, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, and Jessica Simpson have all been linked to #8 over the past 2 1/2years. Still, despite “playa” status, Romo is insane. Word out on the street is that he’s dumped Simpson. Dumped JESSICA SIMPSON? Man, I can’t figure Tony out at all. Hasn’t he seen Dukes of Hazzard? Oh wait, he’s seen a helluva lot more… damn. We should start a pool for who his next one will be. I’ll put my money on Kim Kardashian. Can anyone say upgrade?
I bet Brett Favre hates Michael Jackson…
Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Brett Favre is a Hall-Of-Fame caliber quarterback. His three MVP trophies are the stuff of legend, and he hasn’t missed a start since the first term of the Clinton administration. Throw a Super Bowl trophy in the mix, and it’s understandable that the guy has fans. But there’s another side to Brett Favre, a more sinister side. Face it, the guy is a media whore.
When rumblings of Favre coming to the Twin Cities fired up earlier this offseason, opinions around Viking nation were clearly mixed. Some were intrigued by the possibilities, and others were sickened. But either way, the National media went crazy. Every day a new story was coming out about Favre. Ed Werder of ESPN could be seen regularly, binoculars in hand, dangling from a tree on Favre’s palatial Mississippi estate. Werder, and other types like him, would tell us every painstaking detail we didn’t need to know. “And guys, it appears Brett was a little constipated this afternoon… he was seen sipping some prune juice on his front porch. It should be noted, however, that he found relief later in the evening.” Thank you ESPN.
But then something happened. A bigger story came along. Dare I say, a BIGGER celebrity went and died. I bet Brett Favre hates Michael Jackson for stealing his limelight. Jacko just moonwalked off into the sunset with all of the media hype and glory. We’ve now been hearing more about Diprovan and insomnia than about a certain 40 year-old QB’s shoulder. I’m sure the limelight will return to Brett soon enough though. The Vikings training camp is set to open in the next few weeks, and a media circus promises to ensue. As the information age spin cycle heats up, I’m sure MJ’s saga will fade into the distance, just like memories of his old nose did.
Maybe Brett should report to Mankato wearing one glove, now THAT would be a story.
Welcome
Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Blog
Welcome to GoHuddleUp.com! This is a site dedicated to the sport I love…FOOTBALL!! I am just getting things kicked off with this site, but over the next few weeks I will be adding a ton of content. So, go ahead and subscribe and give me your feedback as I go.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jesse
