Super Bowl Preview

Every Super Bowl has a storyline. If you’re looking for one storyline for Super Bowl 49 it’s Tom Brady’s legacy. Brady, who is starting his record sixth Super Bowl, looks to etch his name even more among the greats by earning his fourth Lombardi Trophy which would tie him with his childhood idol Joe Montana. This year however, there is a different storyline making headlines; Deflate Gate has not only taken the league by storm, but the country, and is shedding a negative light on the game itself. If you focus just on the X’s and O’s of the game, it shapes up to be a good one.

The Patriots have the weapons to exploit the Seahawks defense; tight end Rob Gronkowski is Tom Brady’s favorite target and why not? The 6 foot 6 Gronkowski led the team in receiving (1,124 yds. 12 TD’s) and presents matchup problems whether he is lined up at tight end, in the slot or out wide. It’ll be interesting to see where he lines up most and who will cover him. If Gronk is covered that’s okay, Brady will look for the trio of Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, or Brandon LaFell; all of who have had their number called during the postseason at some point. Ede

lman was second on the team in receiving (972 yds.) but led the team with 92 receptions.

The Seahawks will also have to stop running back LeGarrette Blount, and if you can’t wrap him up the first time he’s going to keep going. If the Patriots offensive line can open up holes against one of the toughest and most athletic defensive lines in the league and get Blount going, that will force the Seahawks secondary to play close to the line which will allow the passing game to open up. That’s easier said than done however; the Seahawks defense is allowing just 81.5 yards on the ground and 185.6.

For the Seahawks it’s simple, set Beast Mode free. That will open up the passing game and allow quarterback Russell Wilson to look downfield for his wide receivers and tight ends. Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and former Seahawk Brandon Browner will cover those receivers so it’s important to get Lynch going early and often.

The Patriots defense isn’t far behind the Seahawks in terms of total defense (239.8 PYG, 104.3 RPG) but Lynch has shown that he can get the yards he wants. In their NFC Championship Game against the Packers Lynch had 157 yards on 25 carries including the game-tying score with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. When Beast Mode is engaged there are very few defenses that can stop him so the best hope is to limit the damage he does. If the Patriots can limit him then they’ll have to hope to contain quarterback Russell Wilson not only through the air but also on the ground. The Seahawks don’t have the receivers the Patriots do but they feel their receivers are just as good. Doug Baldwin led the team in both receptions (66), and yards (825). Marshawn Lynch was the leading receiver with 4 touchdowns. Not to worry though, if both Lynch and Wilson are contained, the Seahawks defense and special teams will create their own points.

This game also has a legacy factor to it on both sides. For Tom Brady this is his sixth Super Bowl start; having lost the previous two, he looks to capture his fourth ring and put his name at the top. Standing in his way is a defense that is trying to do the same for their name. Back-to-back Super Bowl titles for the Seahawks defense and another victory over one of the games greats could cement their name at the top with names like ‘The Steel Curtain and the ’85 Bears’. Those are names that when you mention them, you’re recognizing greatness. The ‘Legion of Boom’ looks to put itself in the same class.

Patriots 21, Seahawks 27 

MVP: Marshawn Lynch 

NFL Draft Preview: Picks 21-32

Now we get to the back end of the first round. Much like picks 11-20, there are names people don't know but don't be fooled by anything, there is still plenty of talent. There will be some names that aren't announced in the early portion of the first round that will go later. Some of those players could be viewed as a steal because of their high rankings. The final two picks are yet to be determined until we crown a Super Bowl Champion. 

        21. Bengals- Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

        22. Steelers- Cody Prewitt, FS, Ole Miss

        23. Lions- Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU (whether Ndamukong Suh is re-signed or not)

        24. Cardinals- Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

        25. Panthers- Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State 

        26. Ravens- Ty Sambailo, OT, Colorado State

        27. Cowboys- Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota 

        28. Broncos- Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

        29. Colts- Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

        30. Packers- Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

        31. Patriots- Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia 

        32. Seahawks- Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (FL)

You will definitely find some of those "hidden gems" late in the first round. There are a couple names to keep an eye on as it goes on. 

• Devin Funchess- This is an interesting prospect. Funchess played his career at Michigan mainly as a tight end but played some receiver. At 6'5" 230 pounds he has the frame of an NFL receiver but if he's drafted as a tight end he would need to bulk up and add to that frame. He displays great leaping ability and his strides are freakishly long which allows him to be a nightmare matchup. He also has the ability to go up and snag the ball away from defenders. However, he had a number of drops throughout his career and that could hamper him in regards to where he is taken. If his numbers prove well at the combine and pro day, Funchess could be off the board before the second round. 
• Todd Gurley- The Georgia running back was once thought of at a Heisman Trophy winner and a top 10 maybe top 5 pick. But a suspension due to violation of NCAA rules and a torn ACL has seen his draft stock fall. He tore his ACL in November so rehab is still a lengthly process. Before the injury he projected extremely well at the next level with his size and ability. Listed at 6'1" 226 pounds, he is one of the bigger backs in this draft class. He has the ability to run defenders over once he gets to the next level. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield which is a growing asset among the games elite. 

Small Ball

Rule two, section one of the NFL Rule Book stats that game balls must be a certain width, length, and even color. The weight of the ball must be inflated to anywhere between 12 ½- 13 ½ pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces. For the New England Patriots apparently, those rules do not apply. During their 45-7 victory in the AFC Championship Game over the Indianapolis Colts, Colts players noticed the balls that were in use felt a little, well, deflated. In reports by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen today, 11 of the 12 balls used were deflated by more than 2 pounds (per square inch). Footballs tend to lose some of that weight when the temperatures are low, the result of that deflation results in the ball being easier to grip, thus making it easier to throw and catch. This isn’t the first time the Patriots have suspected of cheating however; in 2007 Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 for having an assistant spy on the New York Jets.

The rulebook also goes on to stat the following:

·       “Each team will make 12 primary balls available for testing by the referee two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the game to meet League requirements. The home team will also make 12 backup balls available for testing in all stadiums. In addition, the visitors, at their discretion, may bring 12 backup balls to be tested by the Referee for games held in outdoor stadiums. For all games, eight new footballs, sealed in a special box and shipped y the manufacturer to the Referee, will be opened in the officials’ locker room two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the game”

The real question is, does anyone really care if the Patriots cheated? Did it really make a difference in the outcome of the game? It’s doubtful. The Patriots thoroughly dismantled the Colts and could’ve done so with inflated balls, deflated balls, or a basketball. The Colts couldn’t stop LeGarette Blount who scored 3 touchdowns and had 148 yards. I get the fact that each team has their own balls and gets to choose which ones, but what were the Colts game balls like? Were they deflated? Do we know? Could they have scored the same amount of points if they used the same balls as Tom Brady? The answers to those questions are irrelevant because the NFL isn’t going to strip the Pats of their AFC crown and replace them in the Super Bowl. More importantly though, all of this is taking away from what should be an outstanding Super Bowl matchup. If Seattle can win their second title in a row and minimize the Patriots offense, their defense should be mentioned with the greats. If Tom Brady finally gets his fourth Super Bowl ring, where does he rank all-time? Those are the things we should be focusing on. Not if a couple of balls were deflated by a few pounds. And please, can we stop saying the word "balls"? 

NBA First Half Awards

The first half of the NBA season hasn't been what many expected. The Atlanta Hawks are in first place in the East followed by Washington and Toronto. The Cavaliers are the current 6 seed, one game above .500. The Knicks are abysmal at 5-36. The San Antonio Spurs are the current 7 seed in the West. The leading scorer in the NBA is not named Durant, James, Anthony, or Bryant. James Harden and his beard lead the way at 26.6 per game (LeBron is close behind at 26 per game). The MVP race is as wide open as it's been in a while with Durant missing the first 17 games of the season and LeBron trying to figure out what's going on in Cleveland. The first half of the season isn't necessarily the best judgment of teams or players as they normally start to pick it up after the break. Here's a look at the first half awards if there were any. 

MVP:

This one could go to a couple of guys; but I'm going with James Harden. The Rockets have the fourth best record in the Western Conference but the bearded one leads the league in scoring, along with 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, and has done much of that without a healthy Dwight Howard down low. He's shooting 37% from three-point range and 88% from the free throw line. His defense isn't elite but nonetheless, he's carried the Rockets to the 4 seed in the West. 

-Stephen Curry is another MVP candidate. He's averaging 23.3 per game and 8 assists (5th in the NBA). He's on the team with the best record in the NBA but has a better supporting cast than what the Rockets have. 

Don't sleep on LeBron though if the Cavaliers make a run in the second half of the season. 

Best Team: Golden State Warriors

This is another toss-up; the Atlanta Hawks are right up there with Golden State, but when you play in the Western Conference and have managed 6 losses thus far you have to be doing something right. You have to take into consideration how early it is in the season; teams like the Cavaliers and Thunder are just getting going and will continue to hit their stride and get better. Right now however, the Warriors are the team to beat in the NBA

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis 

The All-Star continues to make a name for himself among the games best. Playing for a team like the Pelicans there aren't many chances for the national audience to watch him. He's quietly having an MVP-like season with MVP-like numbers. He's averaging 24.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game along with 2.9 blocks. His length is what makes him so special on the defensive end. Throw in 2 steals a game and Davis is making his case for the Defensive player of the Year. 

Sixth Man Award: Jamal Crawford

This award should be renamed the Jamal Crawford Award because he continues to come of the bench and give the Clippers a main scoring option. The 14-year vet is averaging a solid 15.7 per game, which is right at his career average. He's shooting 33% from three and dishing out 3 assists per game. 

Rookie of the Year: Andrew Wiggins

Unfortunately the race for ROY between Wiggins and fellow rookie Jabari Parker was cut short earlier this season when the Bucks rookie tore his ACL. Wiggins so far in the month of January is averaging 22 per game with 5.7 rebounds per game and shooting 50% from the field. Traded from Cleveland prior to the season for Kevin Love, the first-year player is starting to show why he was the number one pick and why the Cavaliers shouldn't have traded him. 

NFL Draft Preview: Picks 11-20

        This years draft class doesn't have the talent like years past but there are still some players who will come in and provide a spark. The term "hidden gems" gets thrown around a lot and most of the time it's about players in the later rounds. This year could be a little different due to the lack of talent depth. The players drafted in the first round are usually known by fans across the board but there are still some that are unknown, this year will have some of those players. 

     11. Vikings- Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford 

     12. Browns- Kevin White, WR, West Virginia 

     13. Saints- Donte Fowler, OLB, Florida 

     14. Dolphins- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

     15. 49ers- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma 

     16. Texans- Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

     17. Chargers- Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

     18. Chiefs- Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

     19. Browns (from Bills)- DaVante Parker, WR, Louisville 

     20. Eagles - Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

* Search players here- 2015 NFL Draft Prospects 

•         There is some good talent in the middle of the first round. Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham might have the most upside. The junior who left Norman after an ineligible season was a prized recruit coming out of high school having signed with Missouri, but following multiple failed drug tests and other off the field issue, transferred to Oklahoma. He has the size and physicality (6'5" 225) to play in the NFL and will go up and get the 50/50 balls but the the question will remain whether or not he can stay focused on his future and forget his past. 

•         Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson is another one of those players who has plenty of upside. At 6'2" 231, Thompson looks to project as more of a safety than a linebacker. He is athletic and has naturally ball-skills, but tends to too deep at the line of scrimmage and is forced to take bad angles. Thompson also played running back while at Washington but the change of position for him would take longer than switching from linebacker to safety.