Today I learned how little one should listen to anything said on ESPN by the so called “experts”. The news story du jour appears to be this idea that Terrell Owens could be traded to the Bears. I can not emphasize how mind bogglingly stupid and unfounded this is. It’s one thing to wonder aloud about how a player would fit on a team, it’s another thing altogether to claim it as a possibility, likelihood or reality. Manufacturing a “rumor” and then reporting it yourself as something in the wind is tantamount to lying.
Let me enumerate the reasons why this is not only a lie, but it defies all logic. Logic and common knowledge that should be readily apparent to a professional NFL reporter/analyst. First, anyone who knows anything about the NFL knows that the Bears are obsessed with the Draft and treat draft picks like gold. The Bears made a once in a lifetime deal for Cutler and are now draft pick poor. There is no way they’d further bankrupt their future but giving away what few sparse picks that remain. The Bears are also one of the league’s most conservative and cautious family run franchises, a team that does not tolerate media circuses, distractions or prima donnas. They’ve shown the door to players who’ve run afoul of the law and have cast the franchise in a poor light, they’ve given wide latitude to good company men who’s character was greater than their football skills or acumen. Perhaps most simply, they Bears are very happy with the talent they have at the WR position right now. Johnny Knox is a young star who happens to be inexpensive and they are committed to Hester and are thus far pleased with his development. Bringing in TO would mean someone at the position would lose his job and as it stands such a short term solution would have negative long term effects on the players they are developing now. Adding TO would essentially end any chances that Iglesias, Bennett or Aromashodu had to become assets.
Anyone who you hear repeating this silly meme should be immediately categorized as a fool, a liar, a agitator and someone whose football opinion you should never trust again. ESPN is following the Fox News template of manufacturing sensationalist crap that doesn’t even past the most basic logic test to draw in those with undiscriminating mush filled minds. Pathetic really.
On to the picks.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Early Games
** WASHINGTON 6½ Kansas City 37½ **
Man, this schedule for the Redskins is amazing. I’m sure everyone knows this by now, but the fact that they’ve yet to face a team with a win on it’s record is just nuts. The fact that they are 2-3 is equally goofy, not because it should be better but because most people think it should be worse. I’ve long said that the Skins are terrible but when one of the teams most beloved former players puts out a video like this and no one even cares to disagree with it, you’ve really accomplished something. Has there ever been a 2-3 team that people thought less of than this one? All that and the Chiefs are a TD dog?!?!? Wow, that either tells you something about how crappy the Chiefs are or how crazy bookies and gamblers are. Frankly I’m just confused. The Chiefs gave the Cowboys a game last week and have actually played a fairly tough schedule thus far partially explaining their record. The Redskins have quite a lot of talent and with Moss, Cooley and Portis it’s amazing that they’ve yet to score more than 17 points against any of these terrible opponents. Defensively they’ve got playmakers and they overmatch the Chiefs on paper up and down the lineup. I think at worst these teams are equally crappy in which case the smart money takes the points, and frankly looking at past performances the Chiefs should win this game outright even if the rosters say differently.
The Pick: Chiefs 20 - Redskins 16
** CINCINNATI 4½ Houston 45 **
This is a really interesting matchup. The Bungles look pretty good and are playing some very sound defense. That Cleveland game nags at me a little and I’m hesitant to throw myself on the bandwagon just yet, but evidence is mounting that this could be a good team. I can’t help but ask why the offense seems to struggle as it does right up until the final minutes of the games. With their talent and a functioning Cedric Benson they should be much more dynamic, if Houston comes in firing this week will Palmer and Co be able to keep up? There are some matchups that tilt heavily in the Texans favor, the Bengals weakness on D is the pass defense and safeties. The Bengals don’t pass protect well and for all the flaws with the Houston D their pass rush is for real. Still, the rest of the Texan’s D has been abused for much of the season and Cincy’s confidence in growing. I think Andre Jonson has a big game once again, but Slaton gets stuffed making them one dimensional. Ochocinco will make a few plays and Benson will keep the pass rush honest. I hope this game is broadcast in Chicago.
The Pick: Bengals 28 - Texans 24
Gotta step out, I’ll post this start just to get the thread going. Should be back later with more games. Start the jawing, people.
