These are the picks for the 2003 season. The bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
It was a tough week for me. For starters, the Boston Red Sox were five outs away from winning the American League Pennant. Just five outs! Manager Grady Little made a big mistake leaving pitching staff ace Pedro Martinez in the game in the eighth inning after giving up a couple of hits. A couple of hits later, the game was tied. They lost the game in the eleventh, but the decision not to make a change three innings earlier ended any chances of the Sox winning their first World Series since 1918.
If that wasn't bad enough, the Boston Celtics made a huge trade, sending co-captain Antoine Walker to Dallas. He along with Tony Delk were exchanged for a first round pick, Jiri Welsch, and Raef LaFrentz. This pained me because Walker was my favorite player on the team and the move came out of the blue. This also has me concerned that the powers that run the Old Towne Team is taking a rebuilding approach to the season. As it is, with the way the team is currently constructed, I fear the Celts won't make the playoffs.
There's several teams in the NFL on the fence in regards to playoff chances. But at this point, if they are to get in, they basically must do it with the parts in place. The NFL trade deadline passed without any movement. Part of the reason is that it is set before the halfway point of the season. The other major leagues schedule their trade deadlines after the midway point as playoff-bound teams make moves for depth to win it all, while others aim to get the team over the hump. Teams that know they are going nowhere give up their best players and look to improve a year or few down the road.
Former Dallas head coach Jimmy Johnson made a huge deal when he sent running back Herschel Walker to Minnesota for a ton of draft picks. If the trade deadline was moved back to after week eight for instance, it would add a lot of excitement to the second half of the season. A trade the magnitude of the Herschel trade won't happen, but big names would change home addresses.
For instance, ESPN claims Cincinnati running back Corey Dillon walked into the locker room earlier this week and announced he wants to be traded to Dallas. What if the Bengals and the Cowboys could work that out now? That would be eye-opening. But the league could do more to spice it up. They could expand the trading options for objects and terms, and I'm not just saying cash.
Denver is hurting at the quarterback position. Due to decreasing value, QB Tim Couch could be had by the Broncos for a package of draft picks. In the appendix of the deal, the Cleveland Browns must agree to never don their ugly orange jerseys for the duration Couch is a Bronco. Only the Broncos of the Orange Crush days made orange jerseys look good. Broncos head man Mike Shannahan could turn to St. Louis to solve his quarterback woes. Shannahan would trade for former All-Pro and league MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, but part of the terms of agreement would be a gag order on Brenda Warner from speaking to the media or talking on radio talk shows. Even people outside of St. Louis approves such fine print.
Tennessee has become a passing team. But could depending on quarterback Steve McNair to carry the offense be detrimental? To avoid becoming a predictable team, they contact Philadelphia and work a trade for running back Duce Staley. In return, the Titans give up various sized radial tires and rope. The tires would be hung in various locations around the stadium for quarterback Donovan McNabb to work on his accuracy.
Not that would be Tennessee's only option. They could give the Patriots a ring and inquire about RB Antowain Smith since New England is depending on Kevin Faulk and Mike Cloud now. For the bruising RB, the Titans send to the Pats three pairs of platform cleats for the undersized receiver trio of Troy Brown, David Patten, and Deion Branch.
Oakland owner Al Davis lives on the mantra, "Just win, baby!" Even though the team is off to a bad start, Davis believes his Raiders can still get into the playoffs if they turn it around. So he calls the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars and offers a deal in where he promises not to sue the Jags for copyright infringement (You must admit the Jaguar head that makes the logo is somewhat similar to the visage on the Raiders logo, right?). Davis says he'll keep his team of lawyers from filing in exchange for the legendary map to the Fountain of Youth.
And the possibilites could go on and on. Unfortunately I'm dreaming as those moves won't happen this week nor next week. It's too bad the NFL has the deadline so early. Shifting it back a few weeks would generate excitement during the week, making an argument that NFL doesn't stand for the No Fun League.
I had fun this week. I had my second winning week in a row and I'm above .500 For the first time this season. My record isn't anything special, but I wouldn't trade it under any circumstances.
Cleveland at New England - W
Browns head coach Butch Davis is mum on a decision of who will be his starting quarterback for Sunday. He says it will be a decision between Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch. It's a strategy ploy, but it also reflects what kind of a person Davis is. Restaurants aren't fond of the coach when it's his time to order. The Patriots will be ready for either one and N.E. smacks the taste out the Browns' mouth.
Detroit at Chicago - L
At least Lions head coach Steve Mariucci has a sense of humor. When asked about quarterback Joey Harrington's 7.1 first half quarterback rating, he said that would be good on the richter scale. Mariucci won't panic. Harrington was bound to have days like that as he develops. His poor performance shakes up young Harrington as he and the Lions shake down the Bears.
Denver at Baltimore - W
Broncos head coach has a huge problem. Starting quarterback Jake Plummer remains on the sidelines with a fractured bone in his foot. Now back-up Steve Beurlein is out with a dislocated finger. The solution: Shanahan borrows a page from Minnesota head coach Mike Tice's techniques and suits up at quarterback for practice. But this won't be funny anymore when he lines up under center on Sunday. The Ravens batter Denver.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh - W
Someone tell Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher this isn't 1996. He's starting running back Jerome Bettis against his former team. The first time that happened, Bettis bulldozed his way to 129 yards and two touchdowns, one TD a 50-yarder. Two ways Bettis repeats that performance is get a time machine and bring back the young Bettis or pop in the video tape and push play. In the real world, the Rams shut down Bettis and the Steelers.
Seattle at Cincinnati - L
The Bengals had a bounce or two go their way in the upset win over Baltimore. It won't be the same against Seattle. This is one of the best teams at forcing turnovers and Cincy quarterback Jon Kitna has a history of being generous. The sticky-fingered Seahawks pick on Kitna and the Bengals.
Dallas at Tampa Bay - L
They are Super Bowl champs by title only. T.B. at times looked much different from the team that chocked opponents' offensively and put up enough points to win. I wonder, if they play in the rain, will the red and pewter colors fade to orange and white? Though the Buccaneers bounce back well, I'll stick with the hot Cowboys.
Tennessee at Jacksonville - W
Due to his on-air gaff on ESPN's NFL Countdown, the announcer's booth will not feature Rush Limbaugh as a guest. Both sidelines will be very happy about that. In a uncontroversial game, the Titans best the Jaguars.
Carolina at New Orleans - W
'Lina quarterback Jake Delhomme finally has a blemish on his record this year with the Panthers. Battered, bruised, and confidence down, he finds a remedy in the Superdome, picking apart the N.O. so-called defense. Delhomme returns to form as he leads the Pathers to a win over the Saints.
N.Y. Giants at Minnesota - L
During free agency New York aimed to fix their special teams. They signed a new kicker, new punter, and a new long snapper. Hell, they even added a new returner. Amid all those changes, they didn't sign anybody for the coverage units and paid for it last Sunday. This week, it will be the defense that gets abused as the Vikings dissect the Giants.
San Francisco at Arizona - L
I don't ever recalling such a quiet week at San Francisco in years. Yes, winning relieves any drama that may be going on, but I'm under the impression that wideout Terrell Owens has strep throat. The noise will be made on the field as the 49ers squash the Cardinals.
Houston at Indianapolis - W
Congratulations to the Texans for their first 100-yard day by a running back. Domanick Davis finished the day with 129 yards on 27 carries. String together about five more of those and it will balance out the yards lost due to the 70-plus sacks allowed by the offensive line last year. Houston loses ground as the Colts seal all holes.
N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia - W
Unbelievable circumstances usually occur when Philly plays the Giants. This past week, there was an illegal block in the back that wasn't called that gave returner Michael Westbrook the opening he needed to break the punt for a touchdown. The mojo continues against the other inhabitant of the Meadowlands as the ball bounces the Eagles' way again.
Buffalo at Kansas City - L
Every Chiefs player should change the name on the back of their jersey to Smith. Like the agent in The Matrix movies, K.C. keeps on dodging bullets. It's a punt or kickoff return for a touchdown, or a key turnover to set up a score, or a swarm of locusts that helps the Chiefs get over. Well here comes bad news. Buffalo's offense is reloaded with the return of Eric Moulds and the Bills shoot down the Chiefs in the Upset of the Week.
Miami at San Diego - Monday Night - W
S.D. running back LaDanian Tomlinson was very displeased about being the only winless team in the league before last Sunday and was willing to do anything to change that. He even said he'd cheat. It turned out to be just talk. His uniform was inspected after the game and there was no evidence of oil, grease, or any other foreign slippery substance. Those 200 yards were legit. So will the sub-100 yards Tomlinson gets against Miami as the Dolphins hold Tomlinson in check.
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Super Bowl XXXVIII