Category Archives: NFL

Chip Kelly and The Reason The Coach Isn’t Always The Problem

As you’ve probably heard by now, Chip Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles for a variety of reasons ranging from “hard to work with” to “maybe racist”. Kelly ends his tenure as an Eagle Head Coach with a record of 26-21, which was heavily mired by this season’s 6-9 SU stretch where he also finished 6-9 ATS. His reign will not be remembered without its severe blemishes.

It wasn’t that Kelly’s play calling, personnel assessment or attitude where the problem – it was the total package. It just didn’t work and his ex-players have basically laughed him out of Lincoln Financial Field. That’s never a good sign.

The good news for Philadelphia is that they had a singular, and easily definable problem that also served as the most scapegoat-able position in the NFL.

The easiest thing to do in the professional football is to blame the coaches, but there are always other factors to blame. General managers are bad at putting together winning teams. Some coordinators are probably more at fault. Owners are irresponsible with their spending habits. It goes on and on and gets worse and worse. Very few teams can do what the New York Jets have done this season and totally reinvent themselves.

Grading The Most Reliable (And Unreliable) Quarterbacks

By nature, gamblers hate mistakes they can’t see coming. It’s like betting last-minute that AJ McCarron is going to fumble the snap on Monday Night Football or getting screwed by a random injury. It’s impossible to work these types of x-factors in to whatever calculations or assumptions you design to create the most risk adverse, investment situation for your money.

It’s probably an oxymoron to call gamblers “risk averse”, but it’s not like the sharps and veterans of the industry go out there burning cash like it’s a stack of old porn their mother just found under the bed. We all try to find different angles, corners and metrics to improve our leverages. At least, that’s what we should be doing.

I’m a fan of advanced metrics as a nerd who loves football and probably has too much spare time on my hands. But I also prefer fiddling with classic stats to try and find inside anomalies because – honestly – I’m not as smart as the guys who design the advanced metrics in the first place.

There’s a lot of different, self-made stat configurations I could dig up, but most of it’s boring and don’t necessarily lead anywhere. Most of it reaffirms stuff I already know or assume, which is what most of us want to hear when we’re buying points or laying them. More than anything, I’m just trying to find a wrinkle in the matrix. An anomaly. Something that doesn’t make sense that can help me arrive at a destination that’s closer to a definitive conclusion.

NFL Star Invests in eSports Start-Up Matcherino

NFL star Russell Okung believes that watching video games could one day be as popular as watching NFL, as he contributes towards the $1.25m in seed funding raised by eSports start-up Matcherino.

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung believes one-day people will pay to watch video games, in the same way, they pay to watch NFL matches.

Extreme?

I’m not too sure.

NFL Star Invests in eSports Start-Up Matcherino

NFL star Russell Okung believes that watching video games could one day be as popular as watching NFL, as he contributes towards the $1.25m in seed funding raised by eSports start-up Matcherino.

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung believes one-day people will pay to watch video games, in the same way, they pay to watch NFL matches.

Extreme?

I’m not too sure.

The Odell Beckham Jr Appeal Represents More Than You Think

One of the most anticipated matchups from this past Sunday featured the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. The undefeated streak was once again on the line, and the Giants were pressing to make a playoff push in the muddled NFC East. The game also featured a matchup between the best cornerback in the league and one of the most electrifying receivers alive. It was a battle that did not disappoint.

By now you know what happened. Words were said. Bats were swung. Guys were hit. Passes were deflected. A touchdown was scored. And in the end, Norman’s Panthers kept their perfect record intact while the Giants saw their post season hopes fade to black.

Then ODB got suspended for a flagrant hit on Norman’s skull and all hell broke lose.

People have been screaming like crazy about this confrontation all week long making it difficult for anyone to really get a unique angle on the subject. Was Odell right? Did Norman deserve it? Why on earth would the NFL appeal it right in the midst of Will Smith’s movie “Concussion” making emphatic rounds across the country?

The Odell Beckham Jr Appeal Represents More Than You Think

One of the most anticipated matchups from this past Sunday featured the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. The undefeated streak was once again on the line, and the Giants were pressing to make a playoff push in the muddled NFC East. The game also featured a matchup between the best cornerback in the league and one of the most electrifying receivers alive. It was a battle that did not disappoint.

By now you know what happened. Words were said. Bats were swung. Guys were hit. Passes were deflected. A touchdown was scored. And in the end, Norman’s Panthers kept their perfect record intact while the Giants saw their post season hopes fade to black.

Then ODB got suspended for a flagrant hit on Norman’s skull and all hell broke lose.

People have been screaming like crazy about this confrontation all week long making it difficult for anyone to really get a unique angle on the subject. Was Odell right? Did Norman deserve it? Why on earth would the NFL appeal it right in the midst of Will Smith’s movie “Concussion” making emphatic rounds across the country?

NFL Week 15 – Why it matters

I know, I know. Every writer with a laptop and an audience (hello? anyone?) scribbles one of these articles at this point ever season. This one’s slightly different because I’m not going to preview the Week 15 assuming that you are just waltzing in to the season at this point. You know who’s in, who’s not in, who might be in.

[Image credit: www.sportsonearth.com]

Instead, this is an underscore of what all the teams are searching for in each matchup. Another, stupid variation of this would be, “What Each Team Is Asking Santa for Christmas!” Speaking of which, Happy Holidays!

THE EARLY GAMES IN NFL WEEK 15

NFL Week 15 – Why it matters

I know, I know. Every writer with a laptop and an audience (hello? anyone?) scribbles one of these articles at this point ever season. This one’s slightly different because I’m not going to preview the Week 15 assuming that you are just waltzing in to the season at this point. You know who’s in, who’s not in, who might be in.

[Image credit: www.sportsonearth.com]

Instead, this is an underscore of what all the teams are searching for in each matchup. Another, stupid variation of this would be, “What Each Team Is Asking Santa for Christmas!” Speaking of which, Happy Holidays!

THE EARLY GAMES IN NFL WEEK 15

Identity Revolution – Not your Grandfathers NY Jets?

You either love the Jets or you hate them. Nobody is ambivalent about this team. It’s easy for people to be casual about non-threats to their favorite franchises, or their hometown heroes. Someone who cheers for the Niners probably has no earthly reason to feel anything about the Bucs, for example.

But everyone hates the Jets. It might be time for us to stop.

[Image credit: fansided.com]

The offseason represents an opportunity for bad teams to recreate themselves. And let’s make no mistake about the Jets for the past three seasons. They’ve been comically terrible. We’re not talking “aw shucks” bad. We’re talking “HAHA LOOK AT THE JETS THEY S-U-C-K! It rules!”

Betting the NFL Home Stretch – The Importance of Peaking When It Matters

From the very beginning of the NFL season, the New England Patriots seemed like a lock to either win the Super Bowl, or at least play in it. They started dropping meteorites on opponents, proverbially ending games in the third quarter against Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and others. They seemed unstoppable and there was virtually no point in betting on anyone else from the AFC.

Nothing’s changed, even after a brutal loss last Sunday to the Eagles in which mistakes plagued a usually disciplined New England team. The Pats are still the +200 favorite to win the AFC, the second-favorite in Super Bowl odds and are receiving nearly three-quarters of the backing this weekend for Sunday Night Football against Houston. Everybody is still behind Tom and Bill, and the universe seems as on track as it ever was.

There is – obviously – a big problem.

Teams that have clinched a playoff spot towards the end of the season have one of two choices to make: they can either keep things full throttle and continue to take care of business, or they can administer a conservative approach to afford some rest for their players. It’s a strange rendition of the “fight or flight” mechanism in response to the pressure of the playoffs.

Betting the NFL Home Stretch – The Importance of Peaking When It Matters

From the very beginning of the NFL season, the New England Patriots seemed like a lock to either win the Super Bowl, or at least play in it. They started dropping meteorites on opponents, proverbially ending games in the third quarter against Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and others. They seemed unstoppable and there was virtually no point in betting on anyone else from the AFC.

Nothing’s changed, even after a brutal loss last Sunday to the Eagles in which mistakes plagued a usually disciplined New England team. The Pats are still the +200 favorite to win the AFC, the second-favorite in Super Bowl odds and are receiving nearly three-quarters of the backing this weekend for Sunday Night Football against Houston. Everybody is still behind Tom and Bill, and the universe seems as on track as it ever was.

There is – obviously – a big problem.

Teams that have clinched a playoff spot towards the end of the season have one of two choices to make: they can either keep things full throttle and continue to take care of business, or they can administer a conservative approach to afford some rest for their players. It’s a strange rendition of the “fight or flight” mechanism in response to the pressure of the playoffs.

The Morbid State of the NFL Quarterback Is Only Getting Worse

There’s been talk lately about Matt Ryan’s job security. I guess people are just sick and tired of watching a guy be middle-of-the pack. The Falcons are a collective 14-27 SU in their last three seasons since losing in the 2012 NFC Championship game to San Francisco. They’ve missed the playoffs in all three of those years. You can probably point fingers at Ryan as much as the coaching, or the makeup of the team, or whatever else you want to. At some point, Ryan has to assume a stiff portion of the blame.

The Falcons would only consider cutting Matt Ryan if they thought he wasn’t worth the $50+ million they owe him over the next three years. The Dolphins could do the same with Tannehill at the end of 2016 to alleviate themselves of a quarterback who can’t seem to play consistently, and is owed nearly $30 million after next season.

How do you know when to cut the cord with a quarterback? Are our standards too high for them? Do we expect too much out of them?

More importantly, if you cut a guy like Matt Ryan to save $50 million down the road, who exactly are you going to replace him with?

The Morbid State of the NFL Quarterback Is Only Getting Worse

There’s been talk lately about Matt Ryan’s job security. I guess people are just sick and tired of watching a guy be middle-of-the pack. The Falcons are a collective 14-27 SU in their last three seasons since losing in the 2012 NFC Championship game to San Francisco. They’ve missed the playoffs in all three of those years. You can probably point fingers at Ryan as much as the coaching, or the makeup of the team, or whatever else you want to. At some point, Ryan has to assume a stiff portion of the blame.

The Falcons would only consider cutting Matt Ryan if they thought he wasn’t worth the $50+ million they owe him over the next three years. The Dolphins could do the same with Tannehill at the end of 2016 to alleviate themselves of a quarterback who can’t seem to play consistently, and is owed nearly $30 million after next season.

How do you know when to cut the cord with a quarterback? Are our standards too high for them? Do we expect too much out of them?

More importantly, if you cut a guy like Matt Ryan to save $50 million down the road, who exactly are you going to replace him with?

Measuring Transcendence in the NFL – Does Gronk’s Injury Really Hurt Pats?

The injury to Rob Gronkowski is a big deal for the New England Patriots. That goes without saying. He’s the second best player on the team, even when they’re at full strength. Hell, he’s the best tight end to ever play the game. But even a temporary absence by the man known as Gronk is not a death sentence for the defending champions.

As long as the Patriots have Tom Brady, everything’s going to be fine. I should probably preface this be explicitly stating that I am not a Pats fan. More than anything, I’m a gambler and a football fan (probably in that order).

You can’t replace Gronkowski, but you can certainly evolve in reaction to his injury. I’m not here to discuss x’s and o’s. You just have to look at the history of the Patriots in the Belichik era. They’ve gone from dink-and-dunk, to steamrolling the football with a clock killer, to bombing it out with Moss and back to dinking it…all under the watchful eye of Tom Brady.

In other words, the Patriots have been masterful at adapting to the circumstances of their team because Brady is the truest sense of a transcendent quarterback. He makes everyone around him better.

Goodell draws the line between season-long and daily fantasy sports

Fantasy sports isn’t about the money, it’s about enjoying the game, the teams and players you pick, says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Speaking at a fan forum in Minneapolis on Sunday, in advance of the Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers game, Goodell reiterated that fantasy sports should be about providing fans a fun way to interact with the game, drawing a line between traditional season-long games and the daily versions.

“Season-long fantasy [which] many people probably play here in this room — it’s for fun. It’s social,” said Goodell. “It’s an opportunity to enjoy the game, and we encourage our kids to do it. They have clubs in school. It’s a way to connect people, and we think that’s a wonderful way.”

Daily fantasy sports has taken a little different approach, Goodell pointed out, allowing participants to independently play and pick whatever players they want.

Report says DOJ to declare DFS gambling; DraftKings lawyers up, cuts NBA spending

The US Department of Justice is planning to declare daily fantasy sports to be a gambling activity, according to media reports.

Late Thursday, the New York Post quoted a Washington, DC source saying that the DOJ, which reportedly launched an investigation of the DFS industry last month, would “move to declare daily fantasy site activity gambling.” The source claimed the DOJ was “expected to take some action” on the DFS issue before year’s end.

Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York who led the 2011 Black Friday online poker indictments, was said to have opened an investigation into the DFS industry last month.

The Post report came shortly after DFS operator DraftKings announced it had hired high-priced attorneys David Boies and Johnathan Schiller, who founded the firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, to fight the cease & desist order issued to DraftKings and rival FanDuel this week by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who formally accused the companies of being illegal gambling operators.

Report says DOJ to declare DFS gambling; DraftKings lawyers up, cuts NBA spending

The US Department of Justice is planning to declare daily fantasy sports to be a gambling activity, according to media reports.

Late Thursday, the New York Post quoted a Washington, DC source saying that the DOJ, which reportedly launched an investigation of the DFS industry last month, would “move to declare daily fantasy site activity gambling.” The source claimed the DOJ was “expected to take some action” on the DFS issue before year’s end.

Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York who led the 2011 Black Friday online poker indictments, was said to have opened an investigation into the DFS industry last month.

The Post report came shortly after DFS operator DraftKings announced it had hired high-priced attorneys David Boies and Johnathan Schiller, who founded the firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, to fight the cease & desist order issued to DraftKings and rival FanDuel this week by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who formally accused the companies of being illegal gambling operators.

NFL wideout Pierre Garçon sues FanDuel for ‘misappropriating’ name, likeness

A National Football League player has launched a class action suit against daily fantasy sports operator FanDuel, accusing the site of profiting off himself and other NFL players without compensating them in return.

On Friday, Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garçon filed suit in Maryland, accusing FanDuel of having “misappropriated” the names and likenesses of “offensive skilled position” players. Garçon says FanDuel “knowingly and improperly exploits the popularity” of NFL players, who he’s invited to join his class action.

Garçon’s suit makes no mention of the other major DFS operator, DraftKings, presumably because the NFL Players Association struck a marketing partnership with DraftKings in September that permitted the use of NFL player images.

Interestingly, Garçon was actively shilling for FanDuel last year via his personal Twitter account, offering the chance to win free tickets to Redskins games for players who signed up for the DFS site. Garçon’s personal involvement predated the team partnership the Skins signed with FanDuel last November.