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2019 NFL Gambling: Are the Cardinals worth a flyer in the NFC West?

April 4, 2019 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on 2019 NFL Gambling: Are the Cardinals worth a flyer in the NFC West?

All the intrigue of the 2019 NFL Draft resides with the Arizona Cardinals and the number one pick overall. Are they worth a pre-draft futures flyer at 25-1 to win the NFC West crown?

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The NFC West is the draft’s most intriguing division yet least intriguing from a future’s standpoint. According to Vegas Insider, the favorite Rams at 5/9 nets you $55 and some change on a hundred dollar bet. The Seattle Seahawks (14/5) and the San Francisco 49ers (13/2) do not offer the sexiest payout on a hundred dollar futures bet. Do the Arizona Cardinals have any chance to win this division?

The Arizona Cardinals, at 25-1, representing a $2,600 payout, suddenly I’m interested because the hit is so desirable when placing future bets. The possibility of wagering on this particular future is intriguing because of Arizona’s pass defenseranking fourth in the NFL last season. Patrick Peterson plays shutdown cornerback. 2017 second round draft choice Budda Baker is expected to thrive in a primary role at box safety, can play slot corner, and Arizona didn’t bring back safety Tre Boston.

The Cardinals were fifth defensively with 49 team sacks last season. Chandler Jones remains one of the elite pass rushing specialists producing 13 takedowns of the QB last season. The defensive pieces added later this month in Nashville will improve a defense finishing 20th overall because the run defense was atrocious.

Arizona possesses twelve draft picks later this month in Nashville

Vegas future odds will adjust after the draft. One will gauge how well Arizona performed at this year’s draftby the shift in their futures odds to win the 2019 NFC West title. I’m interested in Arizona’s future at the current odds because I’m predicting Arizona trades down and does not use the number one overall draft choice to select Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray.

There will be a team trading up to one to select Murray. I’m predicting two trade downs in the first round for the Cardinals in 2019 because, after the Murray trade, someone trades up with Arizona to select Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. I’m predicting Arizona makes their first selection around pick nine accumulating a mountain of draft capital in the process.

Arizona acquires massive early round draft capital

When Arizona nails these first-round trades, and ends up with one of the best offensive tackles on the board around pick nine, the Cardinals immediately become a better team. The twelve total draft picks are deceiving, many of them are in the seventh round as compensatory picks. The trade downs in the first round later this month give Arizona the draft capital needed to be a lot better as a team when April 27th, 2019, arrives. Their futures odds will require adjusting.

The draft capital acquired in rounds one through three resulting from the first round trade downs allows Arizona to select an interior lineman to help their pitiful run defense. Terrell Suggs was brought in on a one year deal; there’s little doubt a pass rusher to compliment Jones is a top priority. Fresh options along the interior of the offensive line combined with multiple high round draft selections, in 2019, make Arizona a better team. The Cardinals will shuffle their immense stock of draft capital into future draft capital including 2021 and beyond.

All eyes on Josh Rosen while unleashing David Johnson

The rookie QB, the Hall of Famer from the 2018 NFL Draft QB class, struggled because Arizona as a team was terrible. The offensive line was a mess juggling injuries all season. Rookie wide receiver Christian Kirk showed flashes of brilliance and Larry Fitzgerald continued his march to Canton and will return this season. During the 2019 draft, with the mountain of round 1-4 draft capital acquired from two trade downs in the first round, a WR will be selected.

The secret weapon on the 2019 version of the Cardinals is running back David Johnson lost to injury for the entire 2017 season. Johnson, two seasons removed from leading the NFL in scrimmage yards with 2,118 and an astounding 20 touchdowns, played all 16 games in 2018. A rookie QB, a disaster on the offensive line, a defense unable to stop the run, all contributing factors to Johnson “struggling” for 1,386 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns.

New offensive linemen, a weapon at wide receiver to compliment Fitzgerald’s quest to pass Tony Gonzalez for second all-time in receptions (Fitz needs 23 catches to overtake the Hall of Fame tight end). Fitzgerald has already cemented himself as second all-time in receiving yards, trailing Jerry Rice by 6,000 yards. Hey Vegas, I want a twenty-year future bet on someone breaking Rice’s 22,895 career receiving yards. I can help you set the odds.

Am I throwing my money away because the Los Angeles Rams are elite?

Is a future bet on Arizona winning the NFC West this season foolish because the Los Angeles Rams are easy money? Giggle. There’s no such thing as easy money when wagering on professional football. The favorite heavy Rams draw me closer to making this pre-draft futures bet. Expectations are sky high in Los Angeles, and while there are vibes of a letdown, it’s difficult to envision the Rams not winning the NFC West.

McVay is breaking in two new starters on the offensive line. Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews offer suspect options to generate quarterback pressure. There aren’t a lot of draft picks, seven in total and both Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters offer plenty of question marks at the cornerback position. Eric Weddle, 34, signing a two-year deal to play free safety and inside linebacker, Mark Barron signing with Pittsburgh create more holes for McVay to fill in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Future Hall of Famer Russell Wilson always a contender

The Seattle Seahawks are competitive because Wilson is their foundation, their rock. He will lead his team to wins displaying unusual feats on the field despite being surrounded by a mediocre supporting cast. The offensive line coming together last season was a pleasant surprise. Chris Carson and his effectiveness make Rashaad Penny a terrible first round draft pick. Pete Carroll’s shenanigans at USC are going to cost him his job in Seattle, maybe this season. Carroll’s been connected to the college admissions scandal, resulting in the indictments of Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, of Full House fame. There’s a possibility of a tumultuous season in the Pacific Northwest, yet the ever steadying presence of Wilson playing the game’s most important position will steady a potentially rocking boat. The situation in Seattle doesn’t scare me away from a Cardinals division title futures bet.

Niners and the great wide open

Will Jimmy Garoppolo return fully healthy? The San Francisco 49ers, holding the second overall pick in this year’s draft, will be drafting an impact player, perhaps Nick Bosa from Ohio State or Quinnen Williams from Alabama. With all the action over Murray at number one, the Niners stay put and select their best player in the draft at a position of need.

San Francisco has little options at wide receiver and signing Tevin Coleman combined with a returning Jerrick McKinnon creates confusion at running back. The Niners needs a season to sort things out and particularly needs to nail their WR choice this season. Is D.K. Metcalf worth the number two pick overall given San Francisco’s situation? What are the odds on D.K. Metcalf as the number two pick overall this month in Nashville? Prognosticating the future and measuring the results while creating documentation along the way.

Arizona, NFC West Champions, 25/1, 1 Unit.

If Arizona selects Murray with the number one overall pick, I didn’t throw away my money. It’s a risk of making a futures waivers this close to the draft. Should Murray be the number one overall pick, these odds will go to 35/1, meaning I placed my wager before the best available odds. Something draws me to the wager. A larger force. A synergy of the 2019 Cardinals as a version of the 2017 Rams.

March 29, 2019 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on 2019 AFC South: Colts leading the charge in highly entertaining division

The Indianapolis Colts are the favorite to win the AFC South in Vegas’ most competitive division according to Vegas Insider. Can the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, or the Jacksonville Jaguars contend for the division crown?

Entering the 2019 NFL Season, the AFC South is the tightest race in professional football. The spread between the favorite Colts (13/10) and bottom-dwelling Tennessee (6/1) is the least among the other seven divisions. Houston (5/2) and Jacksonville (4/1) suggest a competitive division.

Prognosticating division winners before the draft is an exercise in futility. Vegas agrees this will be a tight division race all season resulting in entertaining and intriguing season prospects for all four franchises. Mike Vrabel enters his second year in Tennessee, joining Colts head coach Frank Reich, also in his second year. Doug Marrone is hanging on in Jacksonville under constant scrutiny by hawk General Manager Tom Coughlin. Bill O’Brien in Houston enters his sixth year with expectations. Is O’Brien coaching for his job?

Indianapolis, engine revving, waiting to put it all together this season

The Colts, featuring a fully healthy Andrew Luck, coupled with the best draft class in team history last season, are resulting in high expectations. Darius Leonard, a second-round choice in 2018, was defensive rookie of the year for a Colts defense impressing during last season’s playoff run. Kansas City defeating the Colts 31-13 provides a blueprint for the 2019 NFL Draft find the missing pieces on defense to help Luck appear in another Conference Championship Game.

Guard Quenton Nelson, sixth overall a season ago, was everything advertised resulting in an All-Pro season as a rookie. Choosing Leonard and guard Braden Smith back to back in the second round, combined with Nelson’s play, provided critical pieces during the Colts 2018 somewhat surprising playoff run. Smith’s performance as a rookie at right tackle demonstrates draft acumen by the franchise. Indianapolis still has Darnold draft capital to spend and will select twice in the second round this coming April in Nashville.

Houston and Deshaun Watson something to prove

Losing Watson his rookie season to a torn ACL remains a tragedy for the Texans, fans, and the NFL as a whole. Entering his third season, Watson throws to one of the best in the business, DeAndre Hopkins, and the Texans feature one of the most impressive sack artists in a generation, J.J. Watt.

Wide receiver Will Fuller remaining healthy for 16 games and unleashing Lamar Miller coupled with Watson’s third season, fully healthy, could find Houston winning a playoff game in 2019. Losing to division rival Indianapolis in the Wild Cardround last season provides Houston film to review to address team needs for this upcoming season.

Jacksonville and the 88 million dollar man

Signing Nick Foles makes a statement to the rest of the division and the AFC the Jaguars are here to play. Foles is the only quarterback in the division with a playoff win let alone a ring the past five seasons. Jacksonville’s defense still features the best shutdown corner tandem in the league in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Re-signing Calais Campbell and signing line while stud linebackers Myles Jack and Telvin Smith are producing a highly effective tandem.

Left tackle Cam Robinson and stud guard Andrew Nowell anchor the left side of the offensive line. A.J. Cann signing a three-year extension results in continuity in the trenches as he returns to right guard this season. The Jaguars will look to the draft to fill holesat the safety positions with Tashaun Gipson signing a deal with division rival Houston. Many consider anchoring the right side of the offensive line a top priority for Coughlin and Marrone.

Tennessee and Mariota entering fifth-year option

Mariota is an enigma. After four seasons and a playoff win in 2017, Mariota is looking for a new deal. Will Mariota produce the season we all are wanting to see? There are flashes of brilliance in his game, but Mariota has trouble staying healthy. A player getting injured is an x-factor in the NFL. The invariable variable. Injury in professional football will be an occurrence. Injury has de-railed promising careers. The player had all the talent, displayed unusual feats of athletic ability on the field, but the player couldn’t stay healthy.

Trading for quarterback Ryan Tannehillshows Mike Vrabel’s concern for the position. Tannehill is a solid plan B (a good idea revealed by the Philadelphia Eagles over past two seasons). Mariota’s injury history dictates trading for Tannehill ensure a viable back-up quarterback plan is in place in Nashville. Perhaps both Tannehill and Mariota are competing for new deals in 2020. Will Vrabel continue to unleash Derrick Henry who put on a display of punishing running Weeks 14-16 last season? The AFC South in 2019 is one of those divisions designed to entertain this upcoming season.

November 9, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on Photography

I dabble. I work on Framing the photo opposed to lighting and all that jazz. I’m not trying to win a Pulitzer … in photography … My website needs to be, should be, updated every single day. A writer has to write.

I want to be writing about a municipality serving their resident’s unregulated groundwater for 30+ years but Nah. I could be writing about NFL Football but Nah.

I’ll share a photo of Budapest. A gothic city visited in September 2012. You can visit the dungeon detaining the actual Count Dracula. Drink in pubs from the 16th century.

And meet other wonderful travelers enjoying holidays. I don’t think you’re ever too old to Hostel Europe for 95 days.

August 22, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on The Anomaly of Aaron Rodgers

Recently, I had some Twitter action, which is rare, regarding NFL Hall of Fame Quarterbacks and when they took over their respective teams and became franchise quarterbacks long before being deemed Hall of Fame Quarterbacks.

One of the problems with the Hall of Fame Quarterbacks and analysis is the number of future Hall of Fame QBs currently playing, or retired recently; it muddles the conversation. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers (he eventually gets in based on longevity) and … Aaron Rodgers.

The group listed above has produced eight titles. All but Rodgers started in their rookie year, taking over their teams as the franchise in their rookie seasons. The NFL is a tough go for first-year QBs who start immediately. DeShaun Watson destroyed the model’s expectations in six electrifying games in 2017. He got injured. Will he return to the same statistically impossible QB we saw in 2017 for 16 games? Playing behind the worst offensive line in the NFL because of the Watson trade and not having a pick until the third round in the 2018 draft.

Green Bay has back to back Hall of Fame QBs

Brett Favre entered the hall in 2016 on the first ballot. Aaron Rodgers will enter the Hall of Fame on the first ballot five years after he retires. For 26 years, Green Bay has had a Hall of Fame QB. Do you know how much EASIER the NFL is when a Hall of Famer is quarterbacking your team? Green Bay has been competitive for the playoffs going on three decades. Favre’s streak of consecutive games speaks monuments, and while Rodges has an injury history, he’s played 142 of 149 possible games since taking over for Green Bay, awkwardly, in 2008 when he entered his fourth season. It may seem a statistical improbability, but it has happened … Joe Montana and Steve Young for the San Francisco 49ers during their heyday of five titles between 1981 and 1995. Young was Montana’s back-up for four seasons yet saw chunks of action over those seasons before taking over in 1991 and forcing Montana to be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. Young won the title in 1995 and entered the Hall in 2005.

Correlation between playing behind a Hall of Famer?

Rodgers sat three seasons behind Favre. Young sat three seasons behind Montana. Two instances in twenty-six years of NFL free agency. We could have another possible example as Jimmy Garroppolo sat three seasons behind Tom Brady and looked every bit the part of a franchise QB in San Francisco, although his statistical sample is small. Complete, injury-free 16 game seasons. One of the most exciting things to measure during the 2018 NFL season is Jimmy Garoppolo’s performance. Hall of Famers mask holes on the teams, holes filled through free agency, trades, and the draft. 26 seasons of Hall of Fame play at the NFL’s most important position and Just two titles? Who’s making personnel decisions in Green Bay, maybe they should take a look at something analytical every once in a while? Peyton Manning, two rings? Tom Brady has more titles than Favre, Rodgers, and Peyton Manning. Luckily the better Manning QB, Eli, and his two rings tip the scales in favor of Tom Brady haters. Garoppolo looks every bit the part to be a franchise QB, the occurrence before becoming a Hall of Famer. Math is hard.

The Baker Mayfield dilemma

Did the Browns draft a Hall of Fame QB this past April when they selected Baker Mayfield #1 overall? Did the Browns draft the next Drew Brees? Let’s wait to find out; it makes no sense whatsoever. Ready? Mayfield is already cited as the future and the franchise but let’s wait to measure his performance in a regular season game. Given=Tyrod Taylor is not a Hall of Fame QB. Why even make the trade for Taylor when you know you’re selecting a QB #1 overall in the upcoming draft? Don’t muddle the situation by signing a “bridge” QB, what the fuck does that even mean? A “bridge” QB? Draft your guy #1 overall, he’s the starter and let’s try to make things easier on him by protecting him, running the ball, and playing good defense. Cleveland is playing for one win in 2018. What do they have to lose by starting Mayfield Week 1 against Pittsburgh? Expectations are tempered because Mayfield is a rookie QB. Use the Houston Texans and DeShaun Watson as your example from last season. It took 30 minutes of football before Watson took over for six amazing weeks before being injured. If Hue Jackson wants to keep his job past Week 1, I expect a similar decision in Cleveland. If the Browns go into halftime Week 1, at home, against Pittsburgh down 28-10 because Antonio Brown torched the rookie Ward, Le’Veon Bell was an absolute nightmare, and while Cleveland got pressure on Roethlisberger, it wasn’t enough or at the right times and Baker Mayfield doesn’t take over, well, can you fire your head coach at half-time?

June 19, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on World Cup 2018 Day 6 Recap – Japan surprises, Russia Cruises

2018 World Cup action continued in Russia on June 19, 2018, with the conclusion of the first round of Group Stage matches and Japan and Senegal taking an astonishing lead in Group H. Japan defeated Colombia 2-1, aided by a red card given to Colombian Carlos Sanchez, dismissing him from the game, and giving Japan a player advantage for 80 minutes. Senegal defeated Group H favorite Poland 2-1 with the difference coming on a controversial goal in the 60th minute. Host Russia faced Egypt where all eyes were on Mohamed Salah’s return from injury. The Liverpool forward, who separated his shoulder in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid just three weeks ago, was unable to will his team to victory, despite his penalty shot goal in the 72nd minute, as Egypt fell 3-1. Egypt has all been eliminated from the competition, while Russia took control of Group A [VIDEO] with six points and a ridiculous plus-seven goal differential in the standings.

Colombia reeling after unexpected defeat

Colombia, ranked 16th in the world, are a favorite to emerge from Group H and appear in the Knockout Stage. Japan, ranked 61st in the world, took a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute after Sanchez’ dismissal for his handball and Shinji Kagawa netted the ensuing penalty shot. Sanchez’s red card was the first of the 2018 World Cup and while the Colombians were able to equalize in the 39th minute on Juan Quintero’s free-kick, placed brilliantly underneath the defenders’ feet as they jumped, Colombia’s one-player disadvantage proved too much to overcome. Japan would secure the 2-1 victory on Yuya Osako’s goal in the 73rd minute after dominating stretches of the game with the one player advantage.

Poland flounders against Senegal

Poland is ranked eighth in the world, features prolific Bundesliga scorer Robert Lewandowski, and are the favorites in Group H. Senegal, playing in their first World Cup since 2002, opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Idrissa Gueye’s shot caromed off Poland defender Thiago Cionek and into the net for an own goal. It was the third own goal of the tournament and sunk Poland just like Morocco was sent to disappointing defeat earlier in the week on an own goal. Senegal would improve the lead 2-0 controversially when M’Baye Niang looked ready to leave the game for a substitute and instead sprinted toward the goal, won a 50/50 ball, and banged the shot home easily for Senegal’s second score of the game. Poland would score in the 86th minute on Grzegorz Krychowiak’s diving header at the back post, cutting Senegal’s lead to 2-1, but an equalizer wouldn’t occur the last ten minutes. Japan’s surprise win over Colombia rivals Mexico’s 1-0 win [VIDEO] over defending champion Germany as the first week’s top storyline. Senegal and Japan lead Group H with three points and a plus-one goal differential with action continuing in the group June 24, 2018, at 11 AM EST.

June 16, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on 2018 World Cup Day 3 Recap

Day three of the 2018 World Cup saw action in Group C and Group D and featured an emotional day of firsts. Iceland, the 2016 European Championship darling, made their first ever appearance in a World Cup, scored their first ever goal, and tied Argentina 1-1. In the early game, the new Virtual Replay Assistant factored in both goals for France as they defeated Australia 2-1. Peru, making their first appearance in the tournament in 36 years, lost to Denmark 1-0 and missed on several key chances. In the final game of the day, Croatia defeated Nigeria 2-0. Upon the completion of Day 3, France and Denmark lead Group C with three points each while Croatia grabs the lead in the Group of the Death with three points with Iceland and Argentina each earning a single point.

Iceland could be darlings of the 2018 World Cup

Fresh off their quarter-final 2016 Euro appearance, where they famously defeated England 2-1, Iceland was delighted to gain a tantalizing point in Group D in a game where Lionel Messi missed several key chances, including a penalty shot saved beautifully by Icelandic keeper Hannes Halldórsson in the 64th minute. Sergio Agüero opened the scoring in the 19th minute for Argentina with Iceland quickly equalizing in the 23rd minute on Alfred Finnbogason’s goal. Argentina would dominate possession, 78 percent to 22 percent, with 27 shots on goal to Iceland’s 8, yet was only able to draw a single point in the standings. Messi’s miss on the penalty kick cost his team two points in the standings and crucial goal differential and demonstrates Iceland can play with the best in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick the day before, including a made penalty kick, gives him the early advantage in who’s the best debates.

Peru makes for emotional day in Group C

Peru, appearing in the World Cup for the first time since 1982, finished fifth in South America qualifying and won an inter-continental playoff against New Zealand on a 2-0 aggregate to secure the 32nd and last spot in the 2018 World Cup tournament. Peru was aggressive with key chances, including a penalty shot in the 45th minute of the first half, the second penalty of the day awarded after video review. “He stood ready to become a Soccer God in Peru”, according the announcer of the game, yet Cuevas’ shot sailed poorly, and harmlessly, over the net. Denmark would spoil Peru’s return to the world stage 1-0 on Yussuf Poulsen’s goal in the 60th minute and join France atop the leader board in Group C.

Croatia aided by own goal against Nigeria

The final game of the day, from Group D, saw Croatia defeat Nigeria 2-0. Nigeria was the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup while Croatia, with their La Liga midfield consisting of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitc, and Mateo Kovack, help make Group D difficult to navigate. Croatia took a 1-0 first half lead when Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic’s header toward the goal bounced ever so slightly off Nigerian defender Oghenekaro Enebo’s leg and into the net for an own goal. It was the second own goal of the tournament in three days, after Iran defeated Morocco 1-0 yesterday on Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own goal. Croatia would add another goal on Luka Modric’s penalty kick, awarded in conjunction with a yellow card, in the 71st minute. Croatia grabs the early lead in Group D with three points and plus-two goal differential and are aided greatly by group favorite Argentina drawing only a point from Iceland. Group C and Group D continue action in Russia on June 21, 2018, at 8 AM EST.

6 Questions for the Cleveland Browns Heading into the 2018 Draft

April 20, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

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Currently, 6 days before the draft, as the roster is currently constructed:

Who’s playing LT? Shon Coleman? Spencer Drango? Chris Hubbard?
Who are the 3 starting corners? Boddie Calhoun, Damarious Randall, and EJ Gaines? Travis Carrie?
Who’s playing on the interior defensive line besides Ogunjobi? Caleb Brantley? Trevon Coleman?
Who’s playing Free Safety? Randall? He was drafted as a safety, making Howard Wilson next man up at CB
What happens if Josh Gordon has trouble or Coleman gets hurt (again) Ricardo Louis? Rashard Higgins?
- Pretty sure Louis and Higgins had every chance in 2017
How many “edge” defenders in the front 4 of a 4-3 base defense are on the field for a given play?
- a rotation of Myles Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, and Chris Smith

These are your team needs. You’re taking a QB who isn’t going to play this season #1 overall. And apparently a RB or an “Edge” defender with the #4 overall because trading down and acquiring draft picks is too analytical for a guy like John Dorsey and it makes perfect sense to address Need 6 with the #4 pick overall. Or draft a RB at pick 4 overall and be paying $45MM+ to the RB position over the next 3 seasons after signing Carlos Hyde in the off season.

Three selections in the second round to address the remaining 5 needs. The prognosticators like OT, CB, and WR, maybe John Dorsey and his crew pick pro bowlers with every second round pick.

After the initial 5 selections, you’re going 4th round and beyond to find impact starters on the defensive interior and secondary because you’re drafting under a flawed, ancient, vague principle … drafting the best player available … what? Cleveland needs corners, a safety, defensive interior and a legitimate LT prospect (none of this Shon might be able to play it or maybe Hubbard can play LT and Stephenson can play RT) way more than they need a RB or an “edge” defender. Do you, as a Browns fan, recognize these names as your new Tackles on the right and left side of the offensive line? Joe Thomas retired and I haven’t heard one legitimate conversation on how the Browns are going to address the loss in the 2018 NFL Draft.

5 2018 NFL Draft Predictions

April 4, 2018 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

Comments Off on 5 2018 NFL Draft Predictions

This scenario Assumes Odell stays and the Giants don’t trade the #2 pick.

The Cleveland Browns get it wrong. Because they’re a cursed organization. The QBs passed on by the Browns will all have Hall of Fame careers. At least Pro Bowlers. Because that’s how things work And what happens when you select a Quarterback with 23 collegiate starts, a QB with Turnover issues.
The Giants take Saquon Barkley. They’re all in this season with a Hall of Fame QB in his twilight. The New York Football Giants are in a 2 year window to win a title and Barkley fills a HUGE need for them and is being called the best prospect at the position in a decade with comparisons to Marshall Faulk.
Shit starts to get crazy after the Jets pick. They moved up to 3 to take a QB and with Barkley taken second, they get whatever QB the Browns didn’t want. Josh Rosen. Hall of Famer. It’s how things work with the Browns. With the Browns picking at 4, Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen still on the board, a team Will call to move ahead of Denver because they’re in the market for a Franchise QB of the future, even though they signed Case Keenum. Elway’s goal is to NEVER pick this high in the draft again, ever … I think Josh Allen is his guy and could see Denver moving up 1 spot just to make sure they get their guy. Many pundits expect a trade at 4 … most agree Buffalo makes the most sense … I offer two other contenders … Washington and Arizona. What? Washington signed Alex Smith … Arizona signed Sam Bradford … those names aren’t the future in those places and with Allen and Mayfield still available … In short, the Browns are in a position to acquire future Draft Capital. The names associated with the pick … Bradley Chubb, Saquon Barkley (not available at 4), Minkah Fitzpatrick (sliding) … Quenton Nelson … they don’t make sense for the Browns for various reasons and picking twice in the first round next year is Better.
6 QBs in the first round … Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield, Allen, Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph … and they’re All gone earlier than expected … 6 QBs in the first 15 picks? Talk about a time to be trading down. And speaking of Trading, wow, I sure don’t remember this many NFL trades EVER … 2018 has been the year of trading players for draft capital … #analytics are here to stay fellas. The MORE you Try and Rebel against it, the quicker the analytics will eat you up and cost you your job.
The ripple effect … with 6 of 32 picks being QBs … since 2001, the most QBs to go in the first round is 4 … there’s first round talent available picks 33-35. The Browns will get these picks wrong as well because they’re a cursed franchise AND they’re making sure Everyone Knows, whatever this #analytics thing is, we’re doing the EXACT opposite of it … Dorsey and his crew of nonwinning flunkies are going to do it the traditional old school football way … and ruin the franchise if they get these first 4 draft picks Wrong … starting with the first overall pick … if they pick the wrong QB, we will have set the franchise back another 5 years … and what football geniuses, we’re going to go ahead and make sure the #1 overall pick at QB doesn’t see the field in 2018. Hue Jackson calling Tyrod Taylor the starter sounds like Alexander Haig running around saying “i’m in charge here”.

At what point does Hue Jackson get fired? 0-1? 0-2? 0-3? 0-4? 0-5? When does Darnold Start? 0-6? 0-7? 0-8? after the bye week? Because we’re a cursed organization, we were dealt a tough hand when it comes to teams scheduled … The NFC South, Tampa, New Orleans, Carolina, and Atlanta … We haven’t had any recent success against Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh so why should we expect success against these teams in 2018? The coaching, on our end, will the be the same and the difference in this league Paul is Coaching.

Luckily for us, I believe this to be down years for all 3 of those AFC foes but Hue will find a way to lose those games.

From a strategy perspective, how do we build the New NFL Coaching Staff? We look for examples, examples where success has been achieved. Like the LA Rams.

The first time Hue intervenes and changes Haley’s play to his own, he’s FIRED bruh … he’s proven for 2 years him calling the plays doesn’t lead to success

… i so admire you’re sexy evil genius … None of the pressure on these 2018 picks is on you, you’re just the guy who put the organization in this position when it comes to the 2018 NFL Draft ….

The LA Rams … look at the coaching titles … run game coordinator, pass game coordinator … McVay, a Miami of Ohio Kid … schooled Hue Jackson all year long calling plays. When Hue gets fired, Strategy should have some ideas put together for big man on how we should adapt our next coaching staff. Notice how they have a couple of true coaching vets with their 30 year old head coach … Wade Phillips, John Fassell … he’s surrounded by 20 year coaching vets.

Interior Lineman, Free Safety, Corner, Wide Receiver … Left Tackle … these are Team Needs. Trading down at 4 gives us even more capital to address those Glaring Team Needs. Best Player Available philosophy doesn’t work with me … Bradley Chubb at #4, he might be the best player available but DE in Williams 4-3 set, DE ranks behind those 5 needs listed at the beginning of the paragraph … people want to act like we’re building rocket ships or something, it’s football, we have 5 draft picks in the first 65 selections and 5 huge needs (RB and DE NOT being ONE of them). Does coaching care to weigh in with an opinion? Is there any disagreement on this list of the Top 5 Team Needs?

Did you go to big man about the possibility of switching to a 3-4 defense because it better suited personnel, especially with the emergence of Joe Schobert and James Burgess (Collins returning) and especially especially Danny Shelton playing 3-4 NT? a guy we needed to extend? So the front office traded Shelton? It’s like Tony Pena all over again.

From a Strategy Perspective, hiring “football” guys in the front office was always the plan. However, the organization might have to go through the process of hiring the Right “football guys”. All that pressure Mr. Dorsey to get these first 5 draft picks right.

Rosen – which QB is the Most Likely to be a Hall of Famer? Mayfield – which QB is the “safest” selection. Mitigate risk. Perhaps a principle of drafting.

1.1 – Rosen

1.4 – Traded. Even if You personally had to call teams and be like, “look, I don’t really want this pick at all, so hey buffalo, it will only cost you 1.12 and 3.1 plus your 2019 first rounder.” It’s like picking up a guaranteed top 15 pick, in addition to our own pick, Top 5, guaranteed. Buffalo could go 2-14 this season. Buffalo plays the NFC North this year … Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay .. Chicago … Things are so much easier if we had Trubisky on the roster, it really was the best call … plus the Chargers, Baltimore, and Houston …. I wonder when DeShaun Watson and Carson Wentz will return in 2018? The guys we passed on are rehabbing ACLs … and we’re picking 6 times in the top 65. Who’s ahead? Time will tell … injury makes the model Invalid.

1.12 – Vita Vea or Da’Ron Payne – Interior Linemen was a need before the Shelton Trade … it’s not hard to read between the lines, the decision to trade him doesn’t make a lot of sense, and we didn’t get That much for him … with the 2019 third rounder, we have a 50/50 shot of finding a cheaper replacement. A house cleaning move? Now, all the draft picks before 2016 are gone?

2.1 – Isaiah Oliver, Carlton Davis, Mike Hughes, Jaire Alexander, and Donte Jackson could All be first round picks. If there’s one of these guys available at pick 33 overall, we should jump all over them because they’re first round talents, with a priority on 6’0″ and above.

2.4 – Best Available LT tryout candidate … we have needs at LT and RT. One of these first 3 picks has to address the need. The model Loves guys who can play T/G or G/C – or T/G/C but I don’t see many prospects listed at those positions. Connor Willams, Brian O’Neill .. Orlando Brown and especially Isaiah Wynn … listed at T/G/C as a prospect ..

2.32 – Best Available safety. The model loves a prospect listed as S/CB. Hey Paul, can the guy I pay $4MM annually to kick the football also “punt” the football? Can the 2 centers (guys who snap the football?) on the roster also Snap the football to my holder (hopefully a backup QB) on a Field Goal Try? It would free up 2 roster slots I can use on Offensive Lineman and Defensive Lineman. Ronnie Harrison and Justin Reid are a couple names of safeties who could be available at the end of the second round.

If we keep 4, Minkah Fitzpatrick is the only prospect worth this selection because he can play Free Safety or Corner, including the opponents route running TE, and he’s tough on the run. When do we put Fitzpatrick on the opponents best receiver? 0-1? 0-2? 0-3? 0-4? 0-5? After the bye week?

3.1 Best Interior Defensive Lineman. With a 3rd round defensive lineman selection, we have a 50/50 shot of finding a 3 year starter. Rasheem Green, Trenton Thompson, Harrison Phillips, Maurice Hurst … Hurst is a guy who would offer tremendous value if he’s available at this selection, one of the analytics houses has Hurst at 1.4 … he’s that talented but teams are going to shy away from him because of his medical issues.

4.14 Best Available OT. The needs are at RT and LT … the first principle of our playoff football team is protect our quarterback. Austin Corbett, Jamarco Jones, Brandon Parker.

5.14 Best Available RB. Priority on prospects who did “poorly” on the 40 yard dash. Mark Walton, Josh Adams, Royce Freeman … which RB, on the board in round 5, pick 14, can play every down? New England, and Belichick, they’re creating a model on RB rotation and Usage .. how they’re used … the formations they’re used …

6th round (174 overall) … best available WR. Of these names, Allen Lazard, Jake Wieneke, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Dylan Cantrell, and Chris Lacey scored the highest in “route running”. Scouting’s list should be easy to sort and filter. Let’s go with WR prospects available in the sixth round based on size … 6’3″ or taller ….

6th round (205 overall). Best Defensive Tackle available.

We traded away a lot of our mid round draft capital … Joe Schobert home run opportunities, it makes the pressure of the first 4 selections even greater. What’s scounting say about Nathan Shepherd?

This draft #scenario is brought to you by one of your strategy lackies. I’d like coaching to make a constructive argument against this scenario and philosophy of drafting based on Team Needs as priority one. Does coaching disagree these positions are of the most need? The actual player selection, that’s on the front office. And I already know the front office crew isn’t open to suggestions … they’re going to do it their way and take all the input they Want to take in and consider, not necessarily All of the Input available on not selecting the best available player, selecting the player Most Likely to become a league average starter for 3 years at a position where we need a different option than we had in 2017. 0 wins.

Maybe set the bar higher. Which of these players at this particular selection at this particular point in the draft are most likely to be a Hall of Famer at this position on the field, a Huge Need for our team in 2018? This could be the standard for first round picks. Rounds 2-3. All Pro. Who’s most likely to be all pro at this position with this selection in the second round, again, based on our 2018 Team Needs? Rounds 4-6. Pro Bowlers. Who’s most likely to be a Pro Bowler with this selection in rounds 4-6. Round 7, 3 year league average starter … who’s most likely to become a league average starter with this 7th round choice?

UDFA? Who’s most likely to make the team and contribute as a league average starter?

Did Hard Knocks call yet? You could so help them handling publicity with your experience. Let them eat cake.

Zombies in Spaceland

January 13, 2017 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

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Zombies in Spaceland, Infinity Ward’s offering to the genre, is by far the most in depth Zombies ever. Here’s some help with the early rounds where the top priority is making money. Zombies in Spaceland requires ten times as much money as any previous edition.

You can watch the video.

Early Round Priorities

Get to main street by turning on the power in the starting location, find the robot’s head, attach the head, trying to coordinate the activation of N3IL with the start of a new round.
Make Money. The M1, when combined with the Fortune Cards Scoped Dollars and Head Shots, will net you the money you need to get the first door open.

Journey into Space

Your priority is to get this part of the park set up … it’s where Juggernog is located and there’s no debate. Turn on the power before second dog round and get Juggernog. The principles of the game have not changed since Kino Der Toten.
Turn on the power, by Juggernog, and go through the portal.

Kepler System

The next priority. There is a good perk here (slappy taffy) and the best wall gun (HVR).
Turn on the power and go through the portal.

Polar Peak

Sleight of Hand is located here. It’s called Quickies.
Turn on the power and go through the portal.

Arcade

Second best wall gun (NV4)
Turn on the power and go through the portal.

Once these actions have been accomplished in these 4 areas, pack a punch will be available through the portal in the Center of the Map … it’s called the Projection Room and you enter by holding X.

N3IL the Robot Challenges

Once the head is attached to the robot, a series of 5 challenges will begin to cycle.
1. Melee kill 10 zombies. Best to accomplish in early rounds and extremely easy with Slappy Taffy Perk until Round 15.
2. Kill 10 Zombies from a Distance. The Zombies will be outlined in White when they are at the appropriate distance.
3. Get 5 MultiKills. One of the harder challenges. Made easier with M1 and the Fortune Card Eagle Eyed. Also easily accomplished by Upgrading the Kendall 44 (starting pistol) in the Projection Room.
4. Kill 10 Zombies while Jumping. Pushing 3 buttons AND moving your thumb, all at the same time, is difficult. It’s called a Rotation. Console gamers have a monumentally more Difficult time with this Rotation than a CPU gamer, for example, someone who plays world of warcraft. Keep practicing.
5. Don’t go into Last Stand.

The challenges cycle. If you fail too many in a row, the robot will pause. After completing these 5 challenges, you enter the KITT mode and Michael Knight assists you for 2 rounds. Once the robot takes him away, a battery will spawn in Kepler or Polar Peak (a total of 6 locations). Find the battery, insert into N3IL, and 5 new challenges will apppear.

The Iraqi Dinar Scam and 5 Things to Know

July 8, 2014 | Posted in Publishing | By Anonymous

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You might as well be holding monopoly money because these notes are worthless anywhere except Iraq and they aren’t worth very much there.

I recently learned some of my extended family and their friends invested tens of thousands of dollars buying Iraqi Dinar (IRQ) in the hopes the currency will appreciate in value or will be “revalued” leading to a ridiculous return on investment, for example, one million Iraqi Dinar purchased for around $1,000 US Dollars could hypothetically lead to $3,000,000 if the Iraqi Dinar returned to its 1990 value of around $3 US per dinar. I’m very sorry if you personally gave your hard earned money in exchange for Iraqi Dinar, you have indeed been scammed and are in possession of worthless paper that CANNOT be turned into USD at ANY bank in the United States of America. You can’t bring a single one of your IQD notes to any bank and leave with USD. Even if the currency is magically revalued, the dreams and hopes of the infinitely unwise, you still will not be able to turn them into USD at any bank in the United States of America. Valuation of a countries currency is complicated to say the least and there is certainly an opportunity to profit from the trading of currencies, just not the Iraqi Dinar, because as far as the global market is concerned, it isn’t real money. You would be better off with the notes from a game of Monopoly, at least people around the world will recognize the game money and it is equally as valuable in the United States of America as the Iraqi Dinar.

Here are 5 things you should know about Iraqi Dinar:

1. You can’t buy or sell them to a bank in the United States.

The Iraqi Dinar is not a currency listed on the Foreign Exchange Market, or Forex, for short. Don’t believe me? Take a single note from your Iraqi Dinar stash to your bank or any bank in the United States and try to walk out with US Dollars. Most people are in possession of the 25,000 denomination note which, according to current exchange rates, available on google, should be about $20. I dare you, take your 25,000 dinar note and try to get $20, you might be surprised, confused, and feel a bit foolish because this exchange rate is set by the Central Bank of Iraq and not recognized by any financial institution outside of Iraq.

2. Are you in possession of the actual dinar bank notes or do you have some type of “statement” saying you own X amount of Iraqi Dinar?

You didn’t get scammed as hard if you’re in possession of physical Iraqi Dinar bank notes. If you have a statement, try to get your hands on the actual dinar. What’s the process? When your ship comes in, and the currency is revalued, and suddenly your statement is worth $3M dollars, aren’t you going to want to get the actual dinar in your hands so you can take it to the bank and deposit it into your checking account? There’s dumb and there is infinitely dumb.

3. The Iraqi Dinar is suddenly revalued at a 1 for 1 exchange rate, meaning 1 IRQ = 1 USD.

Your ship has come in!!!!! Suddenly, your 25,000 Iraqi Dinar note is worth $25,000 USD right?

Wrong. Your 25,000 Iraqi Dinar note, that you hopefully have in hand or you’re the real sucker born every minute, is now considered “Old Dinar” and “New Dinar” at the new exchange rate is going to be a new note issued by the Central Bank of Iraq. What does this mean? I understand you’re a bit slow, after all, you invested thousands of dollars in this scheme, so I will try to explain it as simple as possible.

There be an exchange period for “old” dinar to “new” dinar meaning when you walk into a bank in Baghdad with your 25,000 “old” note, it will be honored at the “old” price, roughly $20, meaning you would walk out of the Iraqi Bank with 20 IRQ in the new notes. You walked into the bank with $20 USD in old dinar and you’ll walk out with $20 USD in new dinar.

In the entire history of traded currency, there has NEVER been a revaluation of a country’s currency in a manner that would allow people who purchased Iraqi Dinar to profit instantly.

4. Iraq is an emerging economy with the massive oil reserves, surely there is a chance for it to increase in value, maybe even to 1990 levels of $3.71 for 1 Iraqi Dinar.

Iraq is a country not a company. And, oil is purchased in US Dollars globally, meaning if you want to buy a barrel of oil, you need roughly $100 USD. You must convert your currency into USD at the going rate then purchase your oil. There is no correlation between quantity of natural resources and currency valuation, it’s currency, countries and governments, NOT a company with stock. In addition, Saddam Hussein is the one who set this price and it certainly was not a price honored on the open market.

5. Currency has value because the countries central bank says so and the market agrees.

The Central Bank of Iraq sets the currency exchange rate for the Iraqi Dinar. I haven’t read the news today, I’m not sure who currently controls the Central Bank of Iraq, The Sunni or Shiite? Iraq is engulfed in Civil War less than 3 years after the last American troops departed the country. Does this really sound like a situation where some currency magic is going to happen and suddenly you have $3M dollars sitting in an envelope in your closet?

There’s stupid, infinitely stupid, and then there’s the people who purchased Iraqi Dinar thinking millions are waiting just around the bend. It’s a whole new level of stupid, but hey, this is America and apparently the internet and google are not as widely used by my family and friends who were taken by this scam.

And the proof is in the pudding … take your massive amount of Iraqi Dinar to any bank in the United States of America and try to convert it to USD. You can’t because this money has NO VALUE OUTSIDE OF IRAQ. And in Iraq, they use USD because it’s easier and people can’t carry around 1,000,000 IQD, the equivalent of a 20 dollar bill in Iraq, its just easier to carry around a $20.

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