The St. Louis Rams are on the clock!
The 2010 NFL Draft order has pretty much been determined, and the St. Louis Rams are no officially on the clock. The Rams held the #2 pick in each of the last two drafts, and this year, they get the top spot.
There are three coin flips to be tossed between Jacksonville and Denver, Tennessee and San Francisco and Atlanta and Houston. The final 12 spots, picks 21 to 32 are determined by playoff finish with the team that wins the Super Bowl picking 32nd, the runner-up picking 31st and so on (playoff teams in bold).
1. St. Louis (1-15)
2. Detroit (2-14)
3. Tampa Bay (3-13)
4. Washington (4-12)
5. Kansas City (4-12)
6. Seattle (5-11)
7. Cleveland (5-11)
8. Oakland (5-11)
9. Buffalo (6-10)
10. Jacksonville (7-9)*
11. Denver (8-8) — From Chicago (7-9)*
12. Miami (7-9)
13. San Francisco (8-8)
14. Seattle (5-11) — From Denver (8-8)
15. New York Giants (8-8)
16. Tennessee (8-8)*
17. San Francisco (8-8) — From Carolina (8-8)*
18. Pittsburgh (9-7)
19. Atlanta (9-7)*
20. Houston (9-7)*
21. New York Jets (9-7)
22. Baltimore (9-7)
23. Arizona (10-6)
24. Cincinnati (10-6)
25.New England (10-6)
26. Green Bay (11-5)
27. Philadelphia (11-5)
28. Dallas (11-5)
29. Minnesota (12-4)
30. San Diego (12-4)
31. New Orleans (13-3)
32. Indianapolis (14-2)
*Will be decided by coin flip
Current NFL Rants & Raves Reviews
Sometimes we get an email that is so funny we just have to share. We usually read these on the air, but with bye weeks all but over (only 2 teams on a bye this week) we are back to covering more games so we must tangent less starting this week.
To congratulate us on our 300th show, listener Shawn, sent us the following email with quotes from sources giving “Reviews” on NFL Rants & Raves.
Thanks Shawn.
Subject: NFL Rants and Raves Reviews
“NFL Rants and Raves is so fresh that it just might clear the smog from Southern California.” – L.A. Times
“Funny Ha Ha…Not that there’s anything wrong with that” – San Francisco Chronicle
“These guys make us look like idiots” – ESPN
“They are the smartest men alive” – Adam Sandler
“Buy! Buy! Buy!” – Wall Street Journal
“You’re all a bunch of f****ts! …Paper or plastic?” – Larry Johnson
“They’re the GUYS! They’re the GUYS!” – Greg Camarillo
“This show is better than a bathtub full of jam” – Joey Tribiani
“Perfect” – Mercury Morris
“Steven and Jeff who?” – Larry King
“Four out of the only five dentists approve” – London Dentistry Association
“They’re Grrrrrrreat! – Tony the Tiger
“With some pine needles, buttons and yarn, these two would make a wonderful Christmas decoration” – Martha Stewart
“Get that f***ing microphone out of my face or I’ll f***ing kill you!” – Tom Cable
“That show Amaayazing” – Huell Howser
“Head and Shoulders tackles more than just dandruff…” – Troy Polamalu
“They are who we thought they were! So if you want to crown ‘em, crown their ass!” – Dennis Green
“Best – podcast – ever” – Simpson’s comic book guy
“Three thumbs way up!” – Ebert, Roeper and Fonzie
“Full of wit, wisdom and warmth. Steven and Jeff will keep you laughing and wanting more.” – Shawn
Congrats on the big 300! Keep ‘em coming.
Shawn
NFL Week 4: The Good, Bad & Ugly
There were plenty of questions answered in Week 4. The Saints continue to march in, the Broncos proved they are a legitimate team, Jay Cutler becoming a hit in Chicago, San Diego has lost its defense and the Raiders and Rams are baaaaaaad. Thank goodness neither team is in L.A. right now.
The Good:
Mendenhall can RUN for Mayor in Pittsburgh!
For the past three weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been trying to find a running game. This week, they found it in RB Rashard Mendenhall. While filling in for the injured Willie Parker, Mendenhall showed why the Steelers drafted him in the 1st round last year. He finished the night with 165-yards rushing, 2 TDs and another 26 yards on 2 catches. That should certainly get him out of the doghouse for his previous fumble problems.
Finally, somebody that can walk the walk.
There are some players that can talk a mean talk, but cannot follow it up by walking the walk. FS Darren Sharper is not one of those guys. One week after saying that QB Mark Sanchez gave plays away with his eyes and that the Saints would be able to strip sack him, Sharper delivered by intercepting 2 of Mark Sanchez’s passes and taking one back 99-yards for a TD.
Darren Sharper
Just keeps getting better.
QB Peyton Manning looks like his old self again. Manning only threw 2 touchdown passes in the Colts’ victory over the Seahawks, but it’s the other things he does so effortlessly. He completed 31 of 41 for 353-yards and moved into a tie for third on the all time NFL TD pass career list. Manning now has 342 TDs in his career and trails only Dan Marino (420) and Brett Favre (469).
The other Steve Smith.
Everybody knows about the Steve Smith playing for the Carolina Panthers. This week everyone is starting to talk about the Steve Smith playing for the New York Giants. The New York Smith is starting to make a name for himself. He has quickly become the Giants number one receiver and is quickly making Giants fans forget about the guy that shot himself in the leg. Smith had 11 catches for 134-yards and 2 TDs. Watch out Carolina Steve Smith!
The Bad:
Invasion of the body snatchers.
Before the season began, Chargers’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he felt that he was still the best running back in the league. It appears that the pod people have replaced L.T. with a shell of a runner. After missing the past two games with an ankle injury, L.T. returned to the field and was ineffective. He only had seven carries for 15-yards. His consecutive games streak of getting at least 10 carries in games he started came to a screeching halt at 86.
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Momma told me there would be days like this.
After becoming the only NFL QB in history to win his first 3 starts, Jets QB Mark Sanchez suffered his worse game as pro, only completing 51 percent of his passes and throwing 3 interceptions and committing one costly fumble in the end zone. Mark will probably be getting a fine for a penalty he committed after throwing an interception that Darren Sharper returned 99-yards for a TD. Keep your chin up Mark, you can’t win them all.
What A Difference A Year makes.
The Tennessee Titans drop to 0-4 after being blown out by the Jaguars 37-17. Something is wrong in Tennessee and appears to be the defense. This year, the Titans are 22nd overall on defense and ranked dead last versus the pass. Last year, the Titans were in the top 10 against the pass and against the run and were second in scoring defense allowing just 14.6 points per game. This year, Tennessee is 27th in scoring defense allowing 27 points per game, nearly twice as much as last year.
The Ugly:
Aren’t You Glad They’re Not In Los Angeles?
St. Louis can keep the Rams! They may very well be the worst team in the NFL right now. They are so bad, we are officially calling them the Lambs. Why? Because they are baaaaaad. The Rams were shutout again this week 35-0, making this the second time in four games the Lambs could not score a single point. What is worse, the Lambs offense produced 21 points for the 49ers. That’s three less than the 24 points they have scored for themselves all year.
St. Louis Lambs
They should have left him at home.
Upon returning from a three-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Bills RB Marshawn Lynch made zero impact. Lynch had 4-yards on eight carries versus the Miami Dolphins. With production like that, the Bills would have been better served by letting Lynch stay in Buffalo.
You Call That Roughing The Passer?
Next year the league will consider two hand touch for quarterbacks. The Baltimore Ravens were penalized twice for roughing the passer when they brushed up against Patriots QB Tom Brady. The second of the two, a penalty on Terrell Suggs, who was diving out of the way to avoid contact with Brady, was just plain ugly. Time to put skirts on the quarterbacks.
Maybe Offensive Coordinators Not At Fault
The Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills have something in common. They all made the same move of firing the offensive coordinator just before the season began.
OC Chan Gailey fired by KC
The Chiefs struck first when Todd Haley fired Chan Gailey on August 31st, just ten day before the start of the regular season. Seven days before the start of the season, on September 3rd, Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris sacked his offensive coordinator, Jeff Jagodzinski. Just one day later, six days before the start of the regular season, Dick Jauron terminated Turk Schonert’s offensive coordinator duties.
Why did so many offensive coordinators get the axe just days before kickoff weekend? Not weeks or months, but days before the start of the season! Well, in Kansas City, it might be easy to call. It appeared that Haley wanted to continue his play calling duties since he seemed to enjoy doing that while the OC in Arizona.
Read the rest of this entry »
NFL Week 3: The Good, Bad & Ugly
There was nothing weak about Week 3 in the NFL, except for “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything!” (see below). The Lions win a game, Brett Favre goes all Brett Favre on the 49ers, QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets at 3-0, the Lions win a game, the Ravens have found an offensive attack and did I mention, the Lions win a game!
Just another great week in the spectacular NFL.
The Good:
A Farvetastic finish!
The old man comes through in the clutch. For the 40th time in his career, Vikings’ QB Brett Favre, just two weeks shy of turning 40 years old, completed a miraculous 34-yard touchdown pass with just two seconds remaining in the game. Favre lead the Vikings on an improbable comeback past the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24, marching the Vikings 80 yards down the field with only 1:29 on the clock and no timeouts. He finished the game with 301 yards passing, the 56th 300+ yards passing game of his career.
20th time’s a charm.
The Detroit Lions win a game! That’s right, you read that correctly, the Lions have won a game! The Lions’ nineteen game losing streak came to an end with a 19-14 victory over the Washington Redskins. The Lions played hard, committed zero turnovers while forcing Redskins’ QB Jason Campbell into a critical 3rd quarter interception. The Lions and their fans can now exhale, as they will not have to worry about consecutive 0-16 seasons.
The Ravens have an offense!
For the third consecutive week, the Baltimore Ravens have scored 31 points or more, averaging 34 points per game this year. That is eleven points higher than they averaged last season. What is the difference this year? That would be 2nd year QB Joe Flacco, who has already passed for 839 yards in three games. This week, he torched the Browns’ secondary for 342 yards passing and a touchdown. Last year Flacco did not pass for over 300 yards in a single game. This year he has accomplished that feat twice in three games.
Get the OC kid in here!
I wonder if USC head coach Pete Carroll still thinks Mark Sanchez is not ready for the NFL. Not only did Sanchez throw 2 touchdown passes and rushed for another TD, but he become the first rookie QB to win the first three games of his career in NFL history. That is impressive, plain and simple. Sanchez has the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets at a perfect 3-0. There certainly is no questioning that Mark Sanchez made the right decision.
Jets QB Mark Sanchez
The Bad:
The return of Mike Vick.
For the many that believe Eagles’ QB Mike Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL, they may not have much to worry about after his dubious debut versus the Kansas City Chiefs. It had been 1,001 days since Vick played in a regular season football game, but after all the hype and hoopla, Vick laid a huge dud. He participated in 11 plays, with two incomplete passes, one run for 7 yards and seven hand offs. He looked stale and rusty and Vick did not factor into the outcome of the game.
Last Year’s Division Winners Starting 0-3
There is a mantra in the NFL that most fans do not know about. “Just because a team made the playoffs last year, does not guarantee the playoffs this year.” Three division winners from a season ago have started this year 0-3. With the Tennessee Titans losing to the NY Jets 24-17, the Miami Dolphins losing to the San Diego Chargers 23-13 and the Carolina Panthers dropping the Monday night game to Dallas 21-7, that means that these three playoff teams from a year ago will have a hard time making the playoffs this year. They are not out of it, but there is a tough hill to climb ahead.
Teams starting 0-3
“Have fun storming the” Cassel.
I think there is a reason Chief’s QB Matt Cassel never started for USC and the only thing keeping Cassel from dropping down into the Ugly category is his 2 TD passes. However, 90 yards passing is not going to get it done in the NFL. Head Coach Todd Haley is still backing Cassel, but I am sure Haley and the Chiefs are expecting more from Cassel and their $63 million investment. The Denver Broncos, now 3-0, must feel like they dodged a bullet, after vehemently wooing Cassel this off-season.
The Ugly:
The chaos and confusion playing QB for the Raiders.
Last week during our fantasy segment, we told you to avoid Raiders’ QB JaMarcus Russell because he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Well, Russell did not disappoint. He only completed 12 of 21 passes for 61 yards, 0 TDs and 2 interceptions. That is horrid! What’s worse? Russell getting sacked 3 times in the second half of the Raiders loss to the Broncos. A half in which Russell recorded a net of 1 passing yard.
Both Cleveland Browns’ Quarterbacks.
How bad do you have to be at QB, to be replaced by someone that is worse than you? That is what Brady Quinn is asking himself after being benched in the second half in favor of Derek Anderson. Brady’s first half numbers were a pedestrian 6 of 8 for 34 yards and 0 TDs with 1 interception. However, Anderson’s numbers were worse, completing only 11 of 19 for 92 yards and 0 TDs with 3 interceptions. Remember, if you feel that you have two starting QBs on your team, you really have NONE!
Tampa Bay gives a new meaning to “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything”
The Buccaneers’ offense only produced 86 total yards and got shutout, losing to the New York Giants 24-0. The Bucs offense ran 36 offensive plays and had 22 of them go for zero of negative yards. I am not sure what is worse, the Bucs’ offensive performance, or rookie Head Coach Raheem Morris saying,
“We were beat by a grown man team today, a team we want to be like one day.”
I didn’t know the Bucs were playing peewee football. Now, that’s embarrassing!
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
NFL Week 2 Recap – the Good, Bad & Ugly
Week 2 of the NFL is quickly becoming known as Upset Weekend. The Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Texans, Giants, and Jets were all underdogs that won outright.
Jerry Jones opened Cowboys Stadium in style, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the 105,121 fans to attend the game.(image below) Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys came up two points short, losing to the division rival New York Giants.
Steven at Cowboys Stadium
The other team in New York talked the talk and walked the walk in Week 2. The Jets, talked smack all week about how they were going to hit Patriot QB Tom Brady. The defense delivered holding the New England Patriots without a TD for the first time since Dec. 10, 2006 when the Patriots failed to score a TD versus the Dolphins.
The Jets got after Brady, hurried him 15 times, knocked him down another five times and picked him off once. Brady finished the game 23 of 47 (48.9%) for 216 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT and a 53.1 quarterback rating. Meanwhile Jets CB Darrelle Revis is showing he is one of the best corner backs in the league, as he limited Randy Moss to four catches for 24 yards.
The Saints go up to the “City of Brotherly Love” and put up 48 points on the Eagles. The Baltimore Ravens have found an offense and have scored over 30 points in back to back games. The Lions were actually up 10-0 on the Vikings before becoming, well, the Lions and Week 2 ends with nine teams having a perfect record.
I find it a little weird that after two weeks of play I can report that the Jets, Broncos and 49ers lead their respective divisions at 2-0.
The Good: Part 1
The Johnson and Johnson show was a smashing success in Nashville! In the same game, Houston at Tennessee, each team pulled out their Johnson’s and they were not afraid to use them! Texans WR Andre Johnson caught 10 passes for 149 yards and 2 TDs while the Titans RB Chris Johnson scored 3 TDs and amassed 284 total yards rushing and receiving. That’s BIG TIME!
The Good: Part 2
49ers RB Frank Gore had a monster game scoring on TD runs of 79 and 80 yards. Gore finished the game with 207 yards rushing and added another 39 yards receiving. Gore and the 49ers defense are the main reason the team is 2-0, in 1st place of the NFC West and putting me in charge of driving the 49ers bandwagon!
The Bad
QB Tony Romo followed his personal best game passing the ball last week with a case of Interceptionitis. The pandemic struck Dallas as they opened their spectacle of a stadium. Romo threw two bad passes and one ill-advised pass for a total of three interceptions in the Cowboys 33-31 loss to the Giants.
The Ugly
Starting the season 0-2 is almost like the kiss of death. Since the league moved to the current twelve-team playoff format, teams that start out 0-2 make the playoffs only fourteen percent of the time. After Week 2, there are nine such teams. The Lions, Rams, Browns, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Chiefs and Dolphins were expected to have a rough start. The Titans and Panthers, two division winners from last year, were not!
