These are the picks for the 2004 season. 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.
Maybe now, finally, we will never hear the term "wardrobe malfunction" ever again.
Earlier this week, the Federal Communication Committee handed down a $550,000 penalty to CBS for the incident during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. You remember, Justin Timberlake tearing off a little too much fabric on Janet Jackson's outfit as he said, "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song"? Yeah, the moment better known as the boobie-trap.
Even though one of Janet's twins was seen, with a decal of some sort covering the nipple, for only a brief moment before the camera switched, the blame fell on CBS, even though they knew nothing of the stunt.
Something of that sort likely will never happen again under the NFL's watch, unless they're stupid enough to book Britney Spears. Not only will they approve the performances after previewing them and demanding appropriate changes, all performances will be on television delay so the league can prevent any offensive images from making it to the millions of living rooms across the country.
Now if only the league would do something about the networks airing the weekly games. Screens are being bombarded with stats as the game is going on. It's annoying enough when the squeeze is put on the game to show scores from other games in progress or have gone final. But now there's more numbers at the top of a screen than on the field.
It started with Fox who put a small translucent box in a top corner, showing the score and time remaining at all times. Fine. Other networks duplicated the idea. But they always want to improve on an idea to make their box stand out from the rest.
CBS's box expands to show updated stats by players between plays. Because it's always good to know immediately that the fullback has gained four yards on two carries after squeezing out a first down on third-and-inches a moment ago.
The Fox box evolved into a full line of information atop the screen. Besides tracking the score and time left in the quarter, sliders, accentuated with sound effects, extend from beneath it with up-to-date stats on individuals and drive information. The rest of the info bar has scores from other games currently being played, latest score information, some individual stats, barometric pressure at the home stadium, tracks attendance, fun facts and trivia in categories of international government, nature, outer space, and the random category odds-and-ends.
ESPN isn't much better. They're not just the world wide leader in sports. They've got graphics like Nintendo during a game broadcast. From showing the starting lineup to individual headshots with stats, just about everything is animated. Just grab your controller during an ESPN broadcast and pretend you're playing "ESPN NFL Production." (by the way, isn't it a conflict of interest to have a show called "EA NFL Matchup" when ESPN has a line of sports video games produced by SEGA?)
These "upgrades" are designed to satisfy the millions of people involved in fantasy leagues but all this information is a tad distracting to the average viewer. Maybe these changes will eventually grow on people or they'll adjust and barely notice all the graphical action. For now, the only way to control the flow of information is to go to the game. Otherwise just brush up on your speed reading during games and rest your eyes during commercial breaks.
And P.S. Coors, keep the twins, but find a new song.
I've got twins of my own after week 2: 8-8. Bye weeks are now beginning so wins will be a little harder to come by.
Arizona at Atlanta - W
If the league can enforce point of emphasis and create new rules, they ought to do something to restrict quarterback Michael Vick. The Falcons are glad he's on their side as the multi-talented passer leads Atlanta past the Cardinals.
Baltimore at Cincinnati - L
B-more quarterback Kyle Boller will be without his favorite target in tight end Todd Heap. The Ravens in the past had a defense good enough to win games when the offense couldn't produce points. That's not the case anymore. If a rookie QB can lead a couple of touchdown drives in Baltimore, then Bengals passer Carson Palmer can find enough holes in the Ravens for the Upset of the Week.
Philadelphia at Detroit - W
Now you see it, now you don't. Minnesota wide out Randy Moss couldn't help but go on about how Philly's Terrell Owens couldn't do the things he could. But Moss can't pull off the slight of hand that Owens did in faking a touchdown reception. No smoke and mirrors are needed for the Eagles as they turn some tricks on the Lions.
Houston at Kansas City - L
Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks took offense to a reporter asking him if he felt the defense needed better players. It sparked a angry response as he came to the defense of his mates. It was the best defense played by any Kansas City player so far this season. Hicks' teammates step up with him in a Chiefs rout of the Texans.
Pittsburgh at Miami - L
What a way to make an entrance to the league. Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger saw his first pro action of his career against the fierce Baltimore defense. Now he starts against a Miami D that's no slouch either. At least playing against those quality units will make the rookie better. Rothlisberger best accept the moral victory because the Dolphins get the actual one.
Chicago at Minnesota - W
Do you believe in reincarnation? You'd think it's possible if Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper was used as one of the case studies. If hypnotized, we'd find out Daunte was a professional basketball player in a previous life. That would explain why he averages over a fumble a game. Culpepper is not fumbling, but dribbling, albeit poorly. One skill that transfers well between the sports is accuracy and Culpepper scores with his receivers in a Vikings win.
Cleveland at New York Giants - L
Those people criticizing Browns head coach Butch Davis for having rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. as part of the onside kick recovery squad don't understand the game. You want your best hands on the field in that kind of situation. That complement isn't given to any of the other Cleveland receivers. The Browns WRs will make a statement as they snatch a win from New York.
New Orleans at St. Louis - L
How will N'Orleans make it without running back Deuce McAllister? No need for the offense to fret. His replacement is the the multi-talented Aaron Stecker who filled in admirably with 45 yards on 15 carries. OK, they're screwed. More importantly, the Saints defense had a hard enough time holding back San Francisco's offense and stand no chance against the Rams' high-powered O.
Jacksonville at Tennessee - L
If Jacksonville continues their scoring trend, they'll score one point this week. Scoring will be hard enough against Tennessee's defense that if the Jaguars fail to score wouldn't be unbelievable. Still smarting from the loss to Indianapolis, the Titans take out their anger on the Jags.
San Diego at Denver - W
Somehow Denver rolled up 356 total yards and only scored two field goals. The distance alone says they should had at least three touchdowns. Guarantee you the Broncos will finish their drives in a Chargers beat-down.
Green Bay at Indianapolis - W
Indy fans, relax. Yes, running back Edgerrin James strained a hamstring but he says he's a fast healer. His witchdoctor has a remedy using chicken bones, toe nail clippings, shredded wheat, and Ben Gay. If not, his back-up, Domanick Rhodes, will fill in nicely in a Colts win.
San Francisco at Seattle - W
Seattle's wide outs are all about stats this year. Number of touchdowns are nice, so are number of receptions and yards. But Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram, and Darrel Jackson are focusing on number of drops. As a unit, they dropped too many last year and want to change that. They'll get plenty of chances to hold on to passes in a Seahawks rout.
Tampa Bay at Oakland - L
It's a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVII and these teams are vastly different from that meeting. Wide receiver Tim Brown and defensive tackle Warren Sapp switched teams since then. The result, however, won't change. It won't be a blowout, but the Buccaneers will come out on top.
Dallas at Washington - Monday Night - W
It's a bad sign for Washington when they turn the ball over enough times to match the number of consonants in their home city. How do the Redskins spell defeat? This time it will be D-A-L-L-A-S as the Cowboys spank the Redskins.
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