Pro Bowl: Stay or Go?

I almost feel obliged to chime in regarding the Pro Bowl debate -- should it stay or should it go?

For me the bottom line is that people watch it and most of the players enjoy it. For the players that suffer all year on a bad team, but they themselves have talent, this is a reward. Who doesn't want to visit Hawaii? When big name players like the Manning brothers and Adrian Peterson are coming out in favor of the game, it should say something to rest of us. And they're not the only prominent players to speak up in favor, asking Goodell to keep the game. It's truly a game for the fans to see big stars all at once, especially in Hawaii, where  live football is as distant as the mainland.

I understand the people who say that the game is sloppy and that it is too high scoring. But they need to understand this -- it is both a rest for the players and not very long to prepare for a game. Playing football isn't the same as playing baseball or hockey -- while the offense can be put together rather quickly, defense takes much longer. When you have players coming together from all different schemes, from 3-4 to 4-3 and everything in-between, a coherent defense is not going to come together in four days of practice. Sorry; it's just a fact of today's complex game.

To me, it simply boils down to if enough players and enough fans enjoy it. I believe they do. The mere fact that so many have spoken in favor of it says so. I've never really been quite sure why Rodger Goodell has been so against the Pro Bowl. The players already don't like him -- he shouldn't make it worse by taking away something they like.

Just a little food for thought.

2012 Conference Championship Picks

It's that time of the year again -- the time when though there are only two games, they matter more than anything else so far. Isn't that the story of the playoffs?

NFC -- 3:00 PM

(3) San Francisco 49ers vs. (1) Atlanta Falcons 

Falcons by 3

Pick: 49ers    Spread Pick: 49ers

Reasons: This game baffles me. Neither team really sticks out to me because both have been inconsistent  The 49ers lost to the Seahawks (big) but beat the Packers? The Falcons should have lost last week and have really been skating by all season. But the bottom line is that they didn't lose. Should doesn't count. But I'm concerned because of how well Russell Wilson did aganist the Atlanta defense. Kaep is better than him (perhaps...). Atlanta better have a solution. However, I don't think they do. My gut tells me to pick the 49ers, but I also believe it could go either way. I haven't believed in the Falcons all year -- why start now?

AFC -- 6:30 PM

(4) Baltimore Ravens vs. (2) New England Patriots

Patriots by 9.5

Pick: Ravens   Spread Pick: Ravens

Reasons: Does the phrase 'Team of Destiny' mean anything to you? It should. Teams such as the Giants (both recent years) and the Packers are notable for their own improbable 'team of destiny' runs through the playoffs and to the Super Bowl. Here's the deal -- the Ravens beat the Patriots in week 3, in an emotional win and with a great field goal. They should have won this game last year (and yes, it is exactly the same game as last year, for those of you who don't remember). It'll be an amazing game, but after last week can anything stand in the way of the Ravens? I don't think so.

2012 Division Weekend Picks

Saturday

4:30 PM
(4) Ravens vs. (1) Broncos
Broncos by 10
Pick: Broncos   Spread Pick: Ravens
Reason: Peyton Manning has never lost to the Ravens. The Ravens have never beaten Peyton. But Peyton also is 0-4 in playoff games played in weather under 40 degrees. Something has to give.

8:00 PM
(3) Packers vs. (2) 49ers
49ers by 2.5
Pick: Packers   Spread Pick: Packers
Reason: The Packers beat down Vikings. The 49ers are better than the Vikings to be sure, but the Packers are getting that Super Bowl run look to them. Aaron Rodgers has a little bit of a grudge here, as does Mike McCarthy. Should be a close game.

Sunday

1:00 PM
(5) Seahawks vs. (1) Falcons
Falcons by 2.5
Pick: Seahawks   Spread Pick: Seahawks
Reason: The Seahawks are hot right now. The Falcons are not. I know two east coast games in a row is a little extreme, but I think Pete Carroll after those years in USC will know how to handle these East coast trips. Momentum is everything in the playoffs and the Seahawks have it. The Falcons should panic.


4:30 PM
(3) Texans vs. (2) Patriots
Patriots by 10
Pick: Patriots   Spread Pick: Patriots
Reason: Did you not see the tape of the last game? Someone needs to wake up the Texans. They didn't play outstandingly against the Bengals, who are not even close to the level of the Patriots. Two weeks to prepare for this game and playing at home -- Belichick won't lose.

2012 Wild Card Weekend Picks

Alright everyone, it's playoff time. That means brackets. But for right now, I'm just gonna offer my picks and the line like I did last year. Hopefully my picks will be correct and then I won't have to post my possibly incorrect bracket. I'll chime in on the coaching carousel when the dust has settled.

SATURDAY

4:30 pm 
(6) Bengals (10-6) vs. (3) Texans (12-4)
 Texans by 4.5
Pick: Texans    Spread pick: Cinncy
Reason: Texans will get back on track and win this game, though don't expect them to get much further.

8:30 pm
(6) Vikings (10-6) vs. (3) Packers (11-5)
Packers by 7.5
Pick: Packers    Spread pick: Packers
Reason: The Packers won't allow the Vikings the same leyway as last week. They'll assert themselves and dominate a Christian Ponder who played unusually well last week.

SUNDAY

1:00 pm
(5) Colts (11-5) vs. (4) Ravens (10-6)
Ravens by 7
Pick: Ravens    Spread Pick: Colts
Reason: The Ravens have won a playoff game each of the last four years. And this time they get to play at home. Look for continued late revenge on the team that left. Ravens/Colts is always tough, especially with the return of Ray Lewis.

4:30 pm
(5) Seahawks (11-5) vs. (4) Redskins (10-6)
Seahawks by 3
Pick: Seahawks   Spread Pick: Seahawks
Reason: The Redskins are a nice story, but Luck (or even Wilson?) is the rookie of the year and RG3 is still a little out of sorts. The Seahawks will dominate, even though it's away from their home turf.