Bloggers' Roundtable: Best Week 6 College Football Game

This week is probably the most interesting college football week so far this season. With conference schedule in full swing, we are treated to 6 match-ups between AP Top 25 teams. This week will help determine whether or not the B1G will even be in the discussion for a team for this years playoff as #19 Nebraska travels to #10 Michigan St. This week will help determine who are the truly competitive teams in the SEC West which currently has 6 of its 7 teams in the Top 15. All of those teams play each other this week as #3 Alabama travels to #11 Ole Miss for College GameDay, #5 Auburn welcomes #15 LSU and #12 Mississippi St. coming off its upset of LSU welcomes #6 Texas A&M to Starkville.

With such competitive match-ups and interesting narratives in each series, this week we asked our bloggers which college football game they were most excited for.

Rick Saxe - Featured Blogger - Nebraska at Michigan St.

The Big Ten has greatly faltered as of late, as it has been tougher than ever to find a solid team in the conference. The last undefeated team standing is Nebraska--currently 19th overall in the country--and they will be going to play a Michigan State team that has suffered a loss this season, but is still rated 9th spots ahead of Nebraska at 10th overall in the country. This game is certainly intriguing, and will give us a better idea of who the powerhouses in the Big Ten are--or if they simply don't exist.

Matthew Hakimian - Lead Editor - Stanford at Notre Dame

Stanford vs. Notre Dame stands out to me in a week filled with incredible matchups. I'm still not sold on Brian Kelly's squad, especially after their abysmal 2013 season. However, Everett Golson looks tremendous so far after being away from the team last season, and he has to be mentioned among the early Heisman favorites. Stanford had a tough loss earlier in the season against USC so we know that David Shaw is going to have his guys fired up in this rivalry game. Both teams have College Football Playoff aspiration so it should be an awesome game.

Stephen Dreznick - Featured Blogger - Stanford at Notre Dame

There are a lot of Top 25 match-ups in college football this week, but the one I am most excited for is the #14 Stanford Cardinals traveling to South Bend to play #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is coming off of a victory against Syracuse, and quarterback Everett Golson has been playing well this year. Stanford has allowed the fewest points per game in the NCAA this year. It will be interesting to watch this potent Notre Dame offense go up against the best defense in college football.

Thomas Kroner - Featured Blogger - Alabama at Ole Miss

Although I should say Cornell's home and Ivy League opener against Yale, since I go here and all. But lets be real, there are 6 inter Top 25 games on Saturday. If I have to choose one, I'm going Alabama at Ole Miss, the winner of this will have a serious leg up in the SEC and National Title race.

Robert Lee - Contributor- LSU at Auburn

The most intriguing College Football game of the week for me is LSU at Auburn. LSU has announced that it will be starting true freshman, Brandon Harris, for this week's game, and it will be interesting to see how this highly touted freshman will handle himself on the road in a hostile environment. On the other hand, this game is the beginning of a hellacious schedule for the Auburn Tigers. They already have a marquee victory against Kansas State; however, of the remaining 8 games, they will have to face 6 ranked team plus South Carolina. This game against LSU could be the beginning of the end or beginning of their journey to the College Playoff for Auburn.

Cole Finke - Contributor - Stanford at Notre Dame

Come on, we go to Cornell. What is more exciting than watching than watching two football and intellectual powerhouses play in one of the biggest rivalries in college football. Stanford coaches even call their old-fashioned, smash-mouth football style “intellectual brutality.” The Cardinal remain one of the last teams in college football that play a traditional style: running a slow offense, pounding the ball in the I-formation and playing solid defense. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish are off to a solid 4-0 start and are ranked in the Associated Press top ten. The atmosphere in Notre Dame Stadium will be wild, as the Notre Dame faithful and the famous Touchdown Jesus will watch their Fighting Irish attempt to beat Stanford for only the second time in six years. This is definitely not one to miss.

The Five Smartest Moves of the 2014 NBA Offseason

I’m going to shatter your expectations and write this entire article without mentioning Lebron James. If you’ve watched ESPN at all in the past, let’s say, decade, I think you’ve had your fair share of Lebron coverage. And while his return to Cleveland has clearly been the highlight of the NBA offseason, I’ve found a way around putting it on the list. Notice how I used the word “smartest”. I’m not glorifying the Cavaliers for having superlative judgement in their acquisition of Lebron. James Dolan has the ability to make that decision. If James Dolan can do it, it’s not ingenious. That’s something I call the “Dolan Rule”--spread the word, let’s make it a thing. I’m looking for the five most clever and strategic moves by an organization this offseason. So allow me to stop talking about the man and get this list started.

5. Chicago Bulls: Signing Pau Gasol They lost out in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, but Chicago still found a way to improve this offseason by grabbing Pau Gasol. The 13-year veteran, four-time All-Star, and two-time NBA Champion will take over for Carlos Boozer as the big man alongside Defensive Player of the Year winner Joakim Noah. The Bulls will get Derrick Rose back, and with the addition of Doug McDermott, they have a lot of talent. Talent only gets you so far, though, so signing a proven winner really means everything for Chicago. A healthy Rose can mean one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference for the Bulls. Expect Gasol to be an integral part of their postseason run.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Trading For Kevin Love Love is a great talent, and has the potential to lead the Cavs to an NBA Championship, so of course I have to mention this trade. Still, for reasons I will explain later, it was not a move deserving to be at the top of the list. The other end of the trade will make an appearance at a higher spot, but for now, let’s focus on the positives. This man has averaged a double-double for the past five seasons. Put those numbers next to the numbers of “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”, add one of the best Point Guards in the league to the mix (Kyrie Irving), as well as top 3-point shooters (Mike Miller/James Jones), my vote for the league’s most underrated player (Dion Waiters) and a good amount of other tools around them (Shawn Marion, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao), and--well--wow. On the other hand...

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Trading Away Kevin Love Kevin Love is in the last year of his contract. And he was NOT signing with the Wolves again. Another year in Minnesota would maybe amount to a low playoff seed and a first round exit in the playoffs at best, so getting value for K-Love while they still could was brilliant. Even more brilliant was the value they were able to get for him. In exchange for an albeit remarkable player--but that would only stay with them for one more year and failed to lead them to the playoffs in all six seasons he spent there--Minnesota received: Andrew Wiggins - An absolute home-run for the Wolves, who were able to lock down the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Wiggins doesn’t share the same mindset as Love, as he’s excited about the opportunity to play on “whichever team wants [him].” He will step into Kevin’s old spot as Minnesota’s franchise player, but with better pieces around him, I’d expect Andrew to accomplish more for the franchise during his career than K-Love did. Anthony Bennett- This first overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft shows us a combination of size and mobility that should excite fans in the Twin Cities. He put up a poor rookie campaign, however he didn’t go a game in the 2014 Summer League without scoring double-digits, while averaging 8 rebounds as well. Thaddeus Young- And finally, add a man who averaged 17.9 PPG last season. After the strongest statistical season career, Young will bring a lot to the table--including much-needed playoff experience--at Small Forward for the Wolves. All that (and a $6.3 million trade exception) for a guy they would’ve only had for one more season. Ricky Rubio, smile.

2. Golden State Warriors: Keeping Klay Thompson SPOILER ALERT: The Golden State Warriors will be the most improved team in the Western Conference, and will make their way to the Conference Finals for the first time since Rick Barry led them that far in the 1975-76 season. All because they knew they didn’t need to shake their team’s foundation, but just add a few more pieces and be patient. When most people hear Klay Thompson’s name, they think “Splash Brother”, or “the guy that helps Steph Curry out a little bit”. First, yes, Klay is a knock-down shooter who becomes a more effective scorer every day. In his three NBA seasons, he’s averaged 12.5 PPG, 16.6 PPG, and 18.4 PPG, respectively. Notice a trend? But what makes Klay so invaluable is his defense. He’s beginning to rightfully be regarded as the best two-way Shooting Guard in the game. His capability to lock down forwards just as well as he can guards is a talent unmatched by any other man at his position today. And yeah, K-Love is great and would’ve made this team even scarier on offense, but it wouldn’t have made them a better team. They already have David Lee--who is a less-talented version of Love, but can do a lot of the same things. While Love would’ve been an improvement at that position, the downgrade at Shooting Guard would have been so dramatic that it would’ve sent Golden State on a path similar to the one they’ve been on for the last few decades--a path with no appealing destination. The Warriors will now benefit from the presence of Shaun Livingston and Head Coach Steve Kerr. While many people think they missed out by not grabbing Love, I think their commitment to Klay Thompson will get them a championship within the next three seasons.

1. Washington Wizards: Signing Paul Pierce I’m not going to make any crazy claims about the Wizards success this season, but this list is about the smartest moves of the offseason, and Pierce is the perfect fit in Washington. I hated Brooklyn’s decision to give up so much for him and Garnett (refer to my blog post last April praising the Celtics for offloading them). And I’m realistic about his shortcomings as far as what is left in the tank. But when I looked at Washington’s roster at the end of last season, I saw that they had athletes that I viewed as top-10 guys at their positions at every spot but Small Forward (John Wall, Bradley Beal, Nene, Marcin Gortat). I also saw that young leaders were struggling to really carry the load and get past other veteran leaders in the playoffs. Enter Paul Pierce. The Wizards killed two birds with one stone in getting a solid Small Forward and one of the most experienced veterans in the league in Paul Pierce. It’s the perfect fit for Paul, who can complement John Wall very well as a leader, and perhaps make the Wizards a serious contender in the Eastern Conference this year. I wouldn’t set my expectations too high for Washington, but as far as moves that actually make too much sense, put this one at the top of your list.

Experience Spotlight - Rick Saxe, National Hockey League

In this semester's Experience Spotlight series, the blog will be featuring Cornell ILR SBS members who have excelled in positions in the sports industry. Many talented Cornell students are making impressions all across the sports world, and this is their chance to showcase their experiences.

This week's Spotlight focuses on Rick Saxe '16.  Rick is a junior in Cornell's Industrial and Labor Relations School. He has been a dedicated member of the club since his first year at Cornell, attending numerous conferences and events, as well as contributing to the blog.

This summer, Rick worked for the National Hockey League, serving as a Studio Intern for the NHL Network.  He was kind enough to answer some questions about his experience.
What were some of your day-to-day responsibilities of the position?

I rotated through all facets of production of live programming on NHL Network--in the studio and in the control room--including roles in stage management, audio management, video management, and graphics coordination.

I came up with an idea for a TV Show for the Network, and it was picked by a group executive producers. I was given a team to work on producing the show, and we are essentially done with its production. As long as the final touches are approved, we hope for it to air in the Spring of 2015 before the next NHL Entry Draft.

How were you able to get the internship?

I got word of this internship through a friend, emailed HR, and went through the application process.

How has this experience shaped your career plans?

While I don't expect to go into television production for a career, I learned a lot (especially from my TV show project) about how to both lead a team and to develop an idea. It was tough for me to alter my original idea because I was really attached to what I was pitching to producers. Opening up to new ideas in order to improve the program was difficult at first, but now that I see how much better it made the show, I learned that listening to teammates is invaluable. No matter what field I land in, I want to be a leader in it, as well as revolutionize it through new ideas, so this experienced definitely helped me take a step closer to reaching that goal.

What advice would you give another student interested in a similar experience?

For someone looking for a similar position, I can't really offer anything past the "make as many connections as you can" advice that everyone pitches to you. I only knew about this opportunity through a friend with similar career goals as I have, so just keep one ear open at all times and know that connections that can change your life can come from anywhere and anyone.

Thank you to Rick and the National Hockey League for allowing us to share this awesome experience. We hope you have learned about some of the wonderful opportunities that Cornell, the ILR School, and the ILR Sports Business Society can provide in the sports world. We hope to feature many more stories from students and employers this fall!

The NFL's Most Improved Teams

The wait is over, it’s football season. And with a new season comes unrealistic optimism for fans like me who--at this point of the season every year--think that their team will be playing in February for the Lombardi Trophy. If your team has let you down recently, however, maybe this actually is the year that your high hopes aren’t baseless. Every year there are teams that perform drastically better than expected, so let’s figure out who those teams will be ahead of schedule. Maybe your team will be the lucky one this year. It is a new season, after all.

Atlanta Falcons: 2013 record: 4-12, 2014 prediction: 10-6
Everyone knows the Falcons aren’t a 4-win team and are due for an improvement in their record this season--the only question is to what degree. I was going to be dramatic and predict a 12-4 record, but they did lose their most consistent player in Tony Gonzalez. Outside of that loss, every other noteworthy difference is a positive one for Atlanta.

Let’s go through some: One of the league’s brightest young stars, Julio Jones, is back. After fracturing his foot in Week 5 against the Jets, Julio spent the rest of the season on the sidelines, watching his well-respected team falter. Is he really good enough to be a difference maker? Yes. He left that Week 5 game early, and was still leading the NFL in receptions at the end of that week. Were he to maintain the pace he was on before the injury, he would have finished with 131 receptions for 1,856 yards (which would’ve easily surpassed the NFL’s best last season). Remember that Jones made the Pro Bowl the year prior after an impressive campaign of 79 receptions for 1,198 yards. Can teams put their best corners on him and stop Atlanta’s entire passing attack?

While  Roddy White has officially become perceived as washed-up, he shouldn’t be. His ankle stopped him last season, which was good news for every corner who hasn’t been able to stop him for the past decade. He’s healthy now, and with a brand new extension that will probably keep him with the Falcons for the rest of his career, he’s certainly not done making his impact just yet. This past season was the first since 2006 that Roddy didn’t gain over 1150 yards receiving. That’s remarkable, and now that he’s healthy again and has Julio to distract the opposition’s best corners, I would be surprised if he didn’t reach at least 1000 yards this year. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have both said they think Roddy and Julio can each go for 1,500-plus yards this season--which would be the first time that was accomplished by two players on the same team--and while I’m not that optimistic, I think overlooking the Falcons passing game is nothing short of foolish.

Oh by the way, Harry Douglas had a 1,000 yard season of his own last year, and will now be the team’s third receiver. Expect a top-5 passing attack in Atlanta, despite that weak offensive line. They did draft Jake Matthews with their first pick this year, and acquire G Jon Asamoah from the Chiefs, but ater losing Sam Baker for the season already, the offensive line is a question mark for sure. Again, this is a 10-win team we’re talking about, not a Super Bowl winner necessarily. Still, we’re remembering the quality of their organization and forgetting the fluke that was their 2013 season. If their stars stay healthy, we’ll see them playing in January.

Green Bay Packers 2013 record: 8-7-1, 2014 prediction: 11-5
Also very tempted to exaggerate here, but take a look at their schedule and you’ll understand why I’m cautious. No team wants to be in the NFC North right now. 8-7-1 isn’t going to win the division again like it did for Green Bay last season, but I think the Packers will keep their spot at the top here. Concerns: Centers JC Tretter and Don Barclay are out, leaving rookie Corey Linsley with the starting role at least for now. He’s a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State and hasn’t snapped the ball to Aaron Rodgers in any game prior to Week 1. Rodgers is coming off an injury, and the Packers need to keep him healthy if they want to get the incredible play out of him that he is capable of producing. Why I’m Optimistic: Next to Linsley will be veteran guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang.

These guys are some of the top guys at their position, and will help ease Linsley into their system and keep Rodgers upright. When Rodgers doesn’t have to worry about the rush, I don’t have to tell you how great he is. With Jordy Nelson coming off a fantastic season, and Randall Cobb ready to show what he can do when healthy, Green Bay’s proven passing attack will be all that’s on opposing defenses minds. Cue Eddie Lacy. Another guy I don’t need to sell, but this young back is actually flying under the radar in my opinion. A Pro Bowler in his rookie season, Lacy is the best running back that isn’t his team’s biggest offensive threat. Don’t overlook that.

While I place guys like AP and Jamaal Charles ahead of him on overall talent, teams know and prepare all week for those guys. The Packers strong passing game will force defenses to spread out, giving Lacy room to improve upon the 1,178 yards he gained in his first season in the NFL. The defense is their weakness, but their pass rush this preseason looked fantastic. Why? Because it’s not the same defense as last year. Green Bay added an 8-time Pro Bowler in Julius Peppers, and an incredibly impressive talent in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Clay Matthews doesn’t have to play with a broken thumb and Nick Perry won’t be bothered by the broken foot that he played through last season. I love the Packers this year. Expect a run deep into the playoffs, and if the defense keeps up the strong play they’ve shown in the preseason, perhaps even a Super Bowl appearance.

Houston Texans 2013 record: 2-14, 2014 prediction: 8-8
Sigh. I don’t want to write too much about an 8-8 team, but I have to put them here if I expect 6 more wins from them. Arian Foster is still a top-5 back in the NFL, and Andre Johnson is a top-5 receiver in my opinion as far as talent goes. The most improved player, and my fantasy sleeper this year, is the astoundingly athletic DeAndre Hopkins. Their defensive line might have the two best lineman in the game by the end of the season (Watt is already playing and getting paid like it and Clowney’s talent will take him there), and the rest of their defense deserves a good chunk of respect themselves.

 Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t taking the Texans anywhere. Not saying anything bad about him, but we’ve seen him play to the best of his abilities in those games against New England while with Buffalo, and I don’t think he’ll reach close to that level again. I’m not giving him any extra love because he is a fellow Ivy Leaguer--he should not be the starter in Houston. I think he will be, at least for a while, but once Ryan Mallett is given a chance, I don’t think the Texans will look back. Mallett has a fantastic arm and learned behind one of the greatest of all-time in Tom Brady while in New England. If he gets the nod early in the season, I think Houston will be in playoff form by next year. Give him a shot. Perhaps above all, Houston has one of the easiest schedules in the league.

They get to play the Jaguars and Titans twice each, and will see the other last-placed AFC teams from last season in the Raiders, Browns, and Bills as well. They’re not a good team, but they’re so much better. Start Ryan Mallett and see him become a top-10 QB within a year or two, and they’ll be able to keep an unhappy Andre Johnson with them. If not, let’s hope we haven’t actually seen the best of Ryan Fitzpatrick just yet. No matter what happens, we will see much more than 2 wins this season in Houston.

Teams on the Rise Trilogy - Part 3: New York Mets (MLB)

I am officially granting my fellow Mets fans permission to take the paper bags off of their heads. Kind of brings you back to the Piazza days, right? Get used to it, because things are changing. Queens is ready for the return of the Amazin’s, and they won’t have to wait for long.

The Mets have ditched the “sign every big name you can get for way too much money” approach that almost worked for them in the past decade with guys like Louis Castillo, Mo Vaughn, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran (if you have a problem with this mention, watch the end of game 7 of the 2006 NLCS and the Septembers of 2007 and 2008), Jason Bay--tell me when to stop. Now, they have developed very solid players that can serve as a foundation for this team for the next decade, and who are certainly something to be excited about.

The foundation lies in pitching.

Matt Harvey pitched like a Cy Young caliber guy for most of the 2013 season--his second year in the bigs. In fact, his 2.27 ERA earned him fourth in votes for the award despite an early exit in August with an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery. The injury was devastating, but pitchers have proven to be able to rebound from the surgery (see Tommy John himself, who pitched another 14 successful seasons after receiving the surgery). At a young age, Matt Harvey is a perfect candidate for a successful return. Fortunately for the Mets, this success will now come at a lower price.

There were discussions of Harvey approaching $200 million territory if he could maintain his success for a tiny bit longer before he got hurt. If this were the case, owner Fred Wilpon--who has experienced serious debt since the recession--would probably not be willing to keep Harvey long-term. Harvey will have to settle for less money, of course, and it is very possible that he could be in Queens for the majority of a long career. As a 25 year old guy with remarkable talent, that is great news for the Mets.

The rest of the Mets’ rotation is equally promising. Zack Wheeler is a 23 year old stud who earned an impressive 3.42 ERA in his rookie campaign. He has a diversity of pitches which include a four-seam and two-seam fastball that averages out in the mid-90s. He has the making of a future ace, and is going to be very willing to sign an extension with the Mets if offered one during the 2014 season. If the Mets can lock him down, I see the Harvey-Wheeler combination as the best 1-2 punch in baseball for a good portion of the next decade.

To add on to that, 27 year old Jon Niese has established himself with ERA’s of 3.40 in 2012, 3.71 in 2013, and 1.82 this year. The Mets have him under a strong contract that pays him approximately $5 million a year and gives them the option of keeping him under that contract until 2018.

Dillon Gee is another 27 year old guy who is coming off his strongest season last year, where he earned a 3.62 ERA and a winning record with around 200 innings pitched. He has started this season off strong as well, and will not be such a costly guy to keep around. For a guy who can be fourth or even fifth in the rotation, he is actually pretty impressive.

With four really promising guys who can go another 10 years at least, we look to the farm system and find another two very intriguing options in Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero (numbers 1 and 3 on the Mets’ Top 20 Prospects List of 2014). Get one of those two to be a franchise guy, and the Mets’ rotation could be one of the top rotations in baseball in the upcoming years.

You need to score runs too--something the Mets have been struggling to do in the last few seasons. They’ve ranked 23rd and 25th in runs in last two years, so why believe that anything is going to change?

We have to start with the captain. David Wright is everything, with a career average surpassing .300 and no signs of slowing down. The veteran will be in Queens through 2020, after signing the largest contract in Mets’ history (8 years/approx. $138 million). He’s not a concern, and neither--I argue--is one other member of New York’s infield.

Daniel Murphy hits the ball harder than anyone. He has an incredible knack of hitting line drives, and with a solid glove as well, he’s a guy that joins Wright as the core position players in New York’s present and future. He’s getting better every year, and is currently hitting .320 this season. A career .292 hitter, that number is going to continue to climb for years to come. The Mets have to ensure that those numbers climb while he’s in Queens. He is underpaid at $5.7 million this season after signing a one-year deal in January, and will be eligible for arbitration in the offseason. The Mets have to sign him long-term, and with back-to-back seasons of new contracts for Murph, I am confident that both sides want that to happen.

Curtis Granderson, Eric Young Jr., and Chris Young are not long-term options for the Mets. 28-year-old Lucas Duda, 27-year-old Eric Campbell, 25-year-old Juan Lagares, 25-year-old Travis d’Arnaud, and 24-year-old Ruben Tejada are. Duda is a hard hitter, but with a career-high of 15 HR’s in a season, his mid-.200 batting average isn’t going to cut it. If he can find his power, he can be a solid hitter 5th in the line-up. Eric Campbell and Lagares are new to the big leagues, but with averages thus far of .455 and .304, expectations are rightfully high. Travis d’Arnaud is inexperienced, and is batting like it, but with outstanding minor league numbers, this player who was named number 6 on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list last year may be a solid option for New York. Finally, Ruben Tejada is a tough case. He has sparks of brilliance, but also has a long record of weak play. He’s young, and only time will tell how he develops. I can’t offer much more than that.

I can spew out names that are coming up in the farm system for New York--Dominic Smith, Wilmer Flores, Amed Rosario--but there is no way to predict future success. I will say that the Mets’ farm system is ranked to be one of the top of all organizations. With incredible pitching, the Mets are going to need a couple of guys to come out in the next few years that can help out Murphy and Wright. They need to stop wasting money on old, high-profile guys like Curtis Granderson. They have the pitching, they need to get a couple of solid, young outfielders to make their line-up respectable. And if they can improve their line-up like I expect, I think the Mets are going to be a force in the NL for years to come.

Blogger Roundtable: Most Appealing Regular Season NFL Game

The passion for football in this country is unrivaled. It is because of this passion that the NFL manages to remain relevant in the news even during its offseason. The most recent news was the release of the 2014 regular season schedule and it did not disappoint. You want rivalry games? How does Brady v. Manning round 15, or Steelers v. Ravens, or Seahawks v. 49ers sound? You want a Super Bowl rematch? "Touchception" rematch? Division opponents battling it out for a playoff spot the last week of the season?The NFL schedule-makers listened to your requests and have ensured that all your wants will be met in 2014. Now as the hype for the season builds as the draft grows nearer, the question is which game is going to be the best.

We asked our bloggers which regular season NFL matchup is most intriguing. Here is what they had to say:

Thomas Kroner, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

Disclaimer, I was born and raised in San Francisco. That being said, it should come as no surprise that my most anticipated matchup is Niners-Hawks on Thanksgiving night at Levi's Stadium. This is the first time the NFL's best rivalry meets during the season. Plus it's a home game for San Francisco, so they're more likely to come out with a W. I look for the first offensive play the Niners run to be some sort of screen or sweep action where Joe Staley comes around and gets to pancake Richard Sherman. Nothing would make me happier.

Stephen Dreznick, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

The most appealing game of the regular season is the Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers matchup. Both teams have high profile defenses coupled with exceptional young quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see how Cam Newton plays against Seattle's secondary, which is in my opinion, the best defensive unit in the NFL. Also, Russell Wilson will have to face the likes of Luke Kuechly, one of the best young linebackers in the game who has the potential to be a future Hall of Fame player.

Rick Saxe, Featured Blogger- Redskins at Eagles

Definitely Week 3's matchup when Desean and the 'Skins get a shot at the Eagles. Desean Jackson has his chance to prove that Philly made a mistake letting him go. He has already stated that he looks forward to these games and wants them to regret their move. Can't wait to see him do it.

Matthew Hakimian, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

The most attractive game for the 2014 season has to be the Seattle Seahawks at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. Easily the best rivalry in football at the moment, the Niners and Seahawks flat out hate the opposition. San Francisco has been on the cusp of a Super Bowl each of the last three years while Seattle is coming off a dominating championship performance. There is no doubt that San Fran will be seeking to avenge their loss in the thrilling NFC Title Game back in January. The stage will certainly be set for this Turkey Day clash in the new Levi's Stadium.

John Martin, Blog Contributor- Redskins at Eagles

The obvious answer to the question would be the NFC Championship Game rematch when the Seahawks travel to new Levi's Stadium to take on the 49ers on Thanksgiving Day. But the game I am more excited to watch due to how deeply rooted the bad blood is, is in Week 3 when the Redskins travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. This will be DeSean Jackson's first time back in Philadelphia, facing the team that cut him over "personal issues" after his best season in 2013. Jackson could have a big game against a pass defense that gave up the most yards during the 2013 regular season, as he seeks revenge against Chip Kelly and the Eagles' front office.

Be sure to comment below to let us know your opinion.

Teams on the Rise Trilogy - Part 2: Boston Celtics (NBA)

Congratulations to Miami Heat fans on a second straight NBA Championship. Wow, that was painful to type. But how can we ignore their magnificence? The Heat enticed other cities’ stars with the excitement of South Beach and the idea of an all-star team within an actual franchise--and it worked. If you’re like me, though, those means aren’t what you want to see organizations pursue to achieve their ultimate goals. Throwing random stars together may have proven successful for Miami, but there is a purer, more respectable, and longer lasting method of becoming an NBA powerhouse. To see what that will look like, please direct your attention towards the recently great, currently atrocious Boston Celtics.

For basketball fans, this is an ironic team to set in contrast of the Heat. Just as the Heat had Wade before they emptied their pockets, the Celtics had Paul Pierce as the face of their franchise in the early 2000s. Before the 2007-2008 season came along, however, they went out and signed All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. They became a force for the next five seasons, winning an NBA Championship in 2008. Sound familiar? Building on a star and creating a “Big Three” is exactly what the Heat would do four years later.

Interestingly enough, the Celtics’ success was short-lived. Ray Allen left in 2012, and they were left with two veteran players with their careers on the decline in Garnett and Pierce. It was then that Boston made the greatest basketball transaction of the young millennium.

Knowing that they were far from being elite, and with players that were only getting worse, the Celtics were able to trade Garnett and Pierce (along with also-aging Jason Terry and irrelevant D.J. White) to the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans--and wait, I’m not done--THREE first round draft picks (2014, 2016, 2018). Also, they have the right to swap first round picks in 2017, which is brilliant for the Celtics because they realize that by that time they will be the better team and have a pick later in the draft, while the Nets will probably have an earlier slot.

Let’s analyze this deal. The Nets got 37-year-old Garnett, who just missed his fifth straight game with a back injury (he’s already missed twelve this season). He’s averaging a career-low 6.7 points per game (his only single digit point average of his career), while averaging the fewest amount of rebounds (6.7) per game since his rookie year. Keep in mind, he was listed as a Small Forward his rookie year, and now he’s a Center. Only .4 more rebounds as a Center is not good, and Pierce’s numbers aren’t much prettier.

36-year-old Pierce (shoulder) is also dealing with an injury as this article is being written. He is averaging a career-low 13.2 points per game, with his worst shooting percentage (43.1%) since the 2003-2004 season. Jason Terry, the third and final big name the Nets received, enjoyed his worst statistical career in almost every major category, before being traded to the Kings, where he is now sitting out the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Now, to the Celtics. With all of what was just said, the fact that Boston got three first round picks out of the Nets for what was given should already be enough to convince you that the Celtics robbed the Nets. If you walk away remembering anything from this article, remember this: the Celtics will have TWELVE first round picks in the next five drafts. That’s absurd. They have three each in the next two drafts, making their ceiling in the next decade miles above what we could even imagine.

Admittedly, the players the Celtics got weren’t all-stars, but that wasn’t their intention or expectation with this deal. Kris Humphries is actually averaging 8.1 points per game, which is above his career average. In fact, he’s besting his career average in every major statistical category. Marshon Brooks was traded around but is now playing really good ball with the Lakers (averaging 10 PPG), Gerald Wallace is still with Boston but is struggling to keep up with career averages, and the other two athletes aren’t really relevant in any sense of the word.

Saying that, before we move to look forward at the Celtics’ future, let’s look at the present. Boston knew that they were giving up this season, and probably the next, by doing this trade. Still, the Celtics are playing above expectations, and are still in the playoff hunt with five games separating them from the eighth-seeded Hawks. The Nets are currently sitting at .500, and don’t seem to be competing with the superpowers of the East--the Pacers and Heat--anytime soon. Unfortunately for Brooklyn, with an old squad and few draft picks, “soon” is the only option they have. And finally, to wrap up the hindsight bias I am spewing at you to prove Boston’s superiority in their deal with Brooklyn, the Celtics just beat the Nets on March 7th.

Now, an overview. The Celtics are playing pretty solid basketball given the lack of talent of their squad with the exception of PG Rajon Rondo. They have twelve first round picks in the next five drafts, with three in each of the next two. As long as they don’t assign a chimp to make the draft selections for them, they are going to be able to field an entire team with talented first round-draft picks that mature in their own system. The Celtics made the greatest NBA transaction that I’ve ever witnessed, and because of it, will soon become an NBA force that is not going to lose that status for a LONG time.

Teams on the Rise Trilogy - Part 1: St. Louis Rams (NFL)

Seahawks’ fans can spend the offseason smiling, just as supporters of the Red Sox and Heat have been for months now. With that, though, leaves just about everyone else wondering if their team’s time is near. For many teams in the MLB, NBA, or NFL, it’s obvious that they will be in the heat of things down the stretch in their respective leagues.

For others, recent memories of failure may have them questioning if a trend is being set or if they can turn it around soon. Taking into account the present state of every team in the three aforementioned leagues, and the positions they have put themselves in moving forward, I’ve concluded which organizations in each league have the brightest futures ahead. This is Part 1 of a trilogy of blogs on this topic, and considering the heightened interest in the NFL, following the Super Bowl, let’s start there.

NFL: St. Louis Rams (Last Winning Season: 2003)

The “Greatest Show on Turf” turned from a thriller into a comedy not long after their dramatic Super Bowl XXXIV win over the Titans in 2000. Six head coaches, an overthrow of players, and 129 losses later, they’ve climbed their way back to the middle-tier in the NFL, but this stop is merely a temporary one.

The Rams are on their way to becoming one of those teams you don’t want to see on your schedule. Already, they’ve established a defensive core with MLB James Laurinaitis, LOLB Alec Ogletree, DE Chris Long, and the young stud DE Robert Quinn--who finished half a sack away from leading the NFL in that category.

Offensively, Zac Stacy went from being a back-up to a top-notch running back as a rookie, so you could only expect this Maurice Jones Drew-type back to continue to improve. WR Tavon Austin also broke out later in the season as a rookie offensive star, who contributed in the running game as well through end-arounds and other unique plays drawn up by the improved coaching staff led by Jeff Fisher. If they can succeed as a run-first team, which it looks like they can, Sam Bradford will be more comfortable in his return from a season-ending ACL injury.

To put things into perspective, this team went 7-9 with a back-up quarterback, a young defense that proved its tenacity, and two offensive rookies who are on their way to becoming stars. In case that isn’t enough to get the attention of the high-standard fans of their NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, however, wait until May. Can you can guess who’s sitting pretty with two early first-round draft picks this year, including the 2nd pick in the entire draft?

 Hopefully you can, because this entire article is about them. If you need help, though, it’s those ____ Rams. I didn’t leave their location blank so you can finish it off for me. I did it because their owner Stan Kroenke bought 60 acres of land in Los Angeles, right as talks of moving an NFL team to LA are rising to the surface. The franchise has a fan base there already, as they played in the Greater Los Angeles Area for just under a century up until 1994. That, though, is a topic for another day. I only mentioned it because it adds a little bit more excitement to this franchise, does it not? Nevertheless, back to the draft.

Their offense still certainly needs help, and they can find what they need on draft day. They can do a lot at number two. My advice would be to go for Jake Matthews, an O-lineman out of Texas A&M, as their O-Line went from bad to dreadful with Jake Long’s season ending ACL injury this past season. They’ll get him back, but he can’t stop 11 guys on his own. Next they should probably look for either another OL or a WR. Tavon Austin is great, but he’s a slot receiver, and they need a true number one WR with some size.

If they can get Sammy Watkins out of Clemson, I will become a Rams fan, as I’d expect that to push them over the top, but they’re more likely to catch guys like Mike Evans--also from Texas A&M--or Marqise Lee out of USC with the 13th pick.

The NFC West is already scary, but I guarantee that it will become scarier in the upcoming seasons. This team can get away with being good without strong play out of Sam Bradford. If Bradford can live up to his potential, though, with the help of the offensive weapons currently developing in their system and the one’s they will acquire in this year’s draft, this team is going to find themselves back where they were in the turn of the millennium with Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk’s “Greatest Show on Turf.”

That concludes part one of the trilogy. Thank you for reading, comment on whether or not you agree or what other teams you think will rise up in the upcoming seasons, and expect part two to come out in two weeks.

Blogger Roundtable: Foreign Invasion- International Sports in the U.S.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby? Here are our thoughts, what are yours? Be sure to vote in the poll and comment to give us your opinion.

As the Winter Olympic Games approach, we will have the opportunity to see many sports that rarely receive much attention. But this is what makes the Olympics great. Not only do we get to root for our country, but we get to see the best athletes from around the world compete in seemingly foreign events that otherwise wouldn't be on mainstream television.

This got us thinking about internationally popular sports that could make the transition to the United States and gain domestic popularity. Rugby provides that roughness that we love about football and is already gaining participation among Americans. Cricket is one of the most popular sports across the globe, with a strong base in the expanding eastern marketplaces, with inroads into the western hemisphere as well . Australian Rules Football has imitated North American sports leagues, providing a stable and accessible platform for American success.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby?

And here is what they had to say:

Rick Saxe, Featured Blogger-Rugby

As Americans' frustration grows with the changing realities of NFL football, rugby has a prime opportunity to step in and become popular. Rugby seems to be able to implement rules protecting its players whilst still maintaining an unquestioned fierceness. It would never replace the NFL, but it can fill a gap that the NFL is struggling to fill.

Max Fogle, Editor-in-Chief- Australian League Football

I think Australian Rules Football has a chance to become surprisingly popular and generate significant revenue in the United States. While cricket and rugby are truly global sports with high participation rates and tens of millions of fans,their most popular events are competition between national teams. Without must-see domestic league programming, it seems unlikely that these sports will make anything more than superficial inroads into the US Market.

Australian Rules Football's model is structurally most similar to North American sports leagues. It is not hard to imagine the sport getting similar air time as the CFL or Arena Football. There's probably room on one of the new major sports networks' docket for a quality product like Aussie Rules Football.

Matthew Hakimian, Featured Blogger- Cricket

I would probably have to say cricket. Aside from soccer of course, cricket is considered by many to be the most popular sport in the world. Admittedly, I do not know much about cricket except the fact that Piers Morgan enjoys tweeting about the English national team quite often.

However, I do know that it does not involve any contact, which would likely help its potential to succeed in the United States. With more and more information being released about the dangers of head injuries in sports such as American football, hockey, and boxing; cricket has a legitimate shot to become popular in the United States.

Stephen Dreznick, Contributor- Rugby

I think that rugby has the most potential to be a popular sport in the United States. It is similar to football in the sense that it's a very physical sport that involves tackling the opponent. Americans tend to enjoy sports of this nature.

Moreover, some of my friends back home recently started playing rugby and have really enjoyed it. This leads me to believe that this sport has much more potential to prosper in America compared to Australian Rules Football and Cricket, as I do not know anyone who has played or watched any of these three sports.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby? Here are our thoughts, what are yours? Be sure to vote in the poll and comment to give us your opinion.

AFC’s Sixth Seed: The Situation for Each Contender

Since 2006, more sixth seeded teams have won the Super Bowl than first seeded teams. Before analyzing each team vying for AFC’s final playoff spot, let’s first address why we should care to. While the fact above shows us not to count any team out, it’s still a valid concern. Why should we expect a team that can’t even attain a winning record in the regular season to compete against powerhouses such as the Broncos and Patriots in the postseason?



I’m here to argue that we should pay close attention to who grabs the last spot in the AFC, for while some teams may not have what it takes to beat a top-tier team, others are capable of a shocking run. The Broncos-Patriots thriller on Sunday night made this situation immensely more interesting. With the Patriots’ win, it seems highly probable that they’ll hold the 2nd seed at the end of the season. This is crucial because whoever does land the last spot will play the 3rd seed in the first round of the playoffs.

If it were the Patriots, I would be hesitant to write this article, but with it now being either the Reggie Wayne-less Colts or the inconsistent Bengals, it would make for a close match-up. With the Broncos’ loss, it seems that the winner of the AFC West and the possessor of the 1st seed will come down to this week’s match-up between Denver and Kansas City in KC.

A win for the Chiefs means they’d be slated as the second-round match-up for the sixth seed--not an easy match-up, of course, but it could be a lot more difficult. All in all, there’s a solid chance the team that can stand out from the pack and squeeze into the playoffs would have a prime opportunity to take advantage of a weak overall year for the AFC.

Let’s see what team that could be.

Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

Overview: Their match-up against the Steelers on Thanksgiving night was a do-or-die. The win essentially knocked the Steelers out of the race and put themselves on top of it. The Ravens are incredibly inconsistent, but have the potential and experience to make a run if they get in. While they currently are holding the sixth seed, the road ahead to maintain it is rough. They have to go to Detroit (6-5) and Cincinnati (7-4), as well as host New England (8-3).

How They Can Get it: Winning this Thursday night was a huge first step. While Baltimore is a shell of what they once were, they can gain momentum from this win and carry it on throughout the season. The key for them is to find the dominant defense they had in previous seasons and have shown sparks of this season.

What to Expect: This team is the one to watch. Not only did their Thanksgiving win assert themselves as the front-runner for the sixth seed, but with the experience that they have on both sides of the ball, this team is the greatest threat to whoever awaits them in the playoffs. Inconsistency explains why they are only 6-6, but also reveals that they have the potential to be great at times. If they find it at the right time, anything can happen.

Tennessee Titans (5-6)

Overview: The Titans technically held the sixth seed before the Ravens win and can get it back with a win this week, but the road ahead towards keeping that spot is far from easy. Their next three games come in Indianapolis (7-4), in Denver (9-2), and home against the Cardinals (7-4). They get to close out against the Jaguars and Texans, but the challenge here is staying relevant up to that point.

How They Can Get It: They barely fell short of the Colts a few weeks ago. If they can find a way to keep Chris Johnson going through four quarters--he scored two early TD’s that game, but did little after--they stand a good chance of leaving Indy with a win. The Cardinals are on a run but are beatable, and the Jaguars and Texans are as easy as opponents get. If they can win four of the games mentioned--assuming a loss against Denver--the sixth seed is theirs. If they win 3, they need a lot of things to go their way.

What to Expect: They definitely have a shot to secure the spot, but this isn’t the team to pull a playoff run out of the bunch. They don’t have enough talent on either side of the ball, and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t out-firing any of the other 5 QB’s in the playoffs. It’s a one-and-done if they find a way to get in.

New York Jets (5-6) and Miami Dolphins (5-6)

Overview: I’ll put two division teams together here, for good reason. The Jets and Dolphins still have two games to go against each other. By losing last week, both of these teams put themselves in a position where they essentially have to sweep the other to make a run for the final spot. The Jets have no excuses, with the Raiders, Panthers, and Browns left--games they should be able to win at least two of. The Dolphins still have to go to Pittsburgh and host New England, so perhaps even sweeping the Jets won’t be enough.

How They Can Get it: Outside of sweeping the series, the Jets are going to have to put more trust in Geno Smith. They barely let him throw against the Ravens because of high winds, resulting in 3 total points for the team. The Jets aren’t winning any games with 127 passing yards from Geno, and aren’t making any run in the playoffs that way either. The Dolphins are in a tough position, but don’t actually have to change too much. They’ve been playing well as of late, and as long as they can keep Mike Wallace finding success deep, they may be able to pull off a run.

What to Expect: The Jets are the better option here for two reasons, neither of them being that they’re the better team. First, their schedule is easier. Second, they for some reason lose to average and bad teams but find a way to beat elite teams like the Saints and Patriots as well. Luckily for them, no bad teams are still playing in the playoffs, so if they can make it, just as we’ve seen in years past with Rex Ryan’s squad, the Jets might be the team that can make a run in the playoffs--crazy, right?

San Diego Chargers (5-6)

Overview: Following a remarkable win against the Chiefs, the Chargers would seem to be the team to beat out for the sixth spot. With the Bengals, Broncos, and Chiefs still waiting for them on their schedule, however, it doesn’t seem as if that’s the case. I would argue that this is the best team out of all on this list, but as a matter of circumstance, this one seems to be the least likely to squeeze in.

How They Can Get It: Become the old Chargers again. We saw it last week, and we need to keep seeing it if SD is serious about the playoffs. Philip Rivers is dissecting defenses like he used to, and Keenan Allen is serving as their first top-tier WR since Vincent Jackson left for Tampa Bay. Their running backs are contributing for the first time since LT was a Charger, making San Diegans start to believe in the Bolts. If Philip keeps firing, they just might pull it off.

What to Expect: A really solid 2014 season. I just don’t see them beating the Broncos, meaning they’d have to win all their other games. The Bengals will be fighting to protect their division lead, the Chiefs may be in a spot in Week 17 where they need to win for a playoff bye, the Giants will be desperate for a win to stay in their own playoff race, and even the Raiders have a chance to play spoilers in a division game. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s not likely. If I’m wrong, however, they might as well keep it going through the Super Bowl, for they have the talent and would have the momentum.

To conclude, keep an eye on this race. Some of these teams are legitimate threats to top teams, and certainly to the middle-tier teams awaiting them in the first round. It’s been done before, and as any NFL fan has learned, the fact that these teams have been labeled as dead is precisely the reason we could expect them to come alive.

Ed Reed to the Jets: An Analysis

Coming into the season, the Jets were a punchline. With the lack of production on the field in recent seasons, many began to wonder whether or not the Jets’ personnel decisions were made for the sole purpose of selling jerseys and tickets. That’s not the case anymore, as with the early success the Jets have had this season--a 5-4 record with quality wins against the Saints and Patriots--it seems illogical to doubt New York’s management.

And perhaps their best move wasn’t made until this week. 9-time Pro Bowler Ed Reed just joined the team, and the Jets are now poised and ready to make a run at a playoff spot--and, I will argue, perhaps even for the AFC title. This move is brilliant, and makes just too much sense.

Ed Reed is now reunited with his Defensive Coordinator from his rookie year in 2002 until Rex joined the Jets in 2009. He knows the system, and can literally take the field tomorrow to contribute to New York’s already strong defensive unit. It was the right move for Ed, but let’s explore why it was the right move for the Jets.

New York has made playoff runs already under Rex Ryan, but even I--as an avid Jets fan--didn’t think it was possible this year. On the 2009 and 2010 rosters, the Jets had veterans and leaders, especially on defense. If the young guys weren’t playing up to par, Bart Scott would let them hear it. If someone made a bad play and were hanging their head, Kris Jenkins would remind them there’s a whole game ahead. If it was a big moment in the game and the team needed someone to step up, Ladainian Tomlinson would make a big play. This year, the Jets don’t have that veteran.

Well, they didn’t.

They have young studs making big plays, but had no one to step up and be the leader that all Super Bowl contending teams have and need. Ed Reed is one of the most knowledgeable defensive players in the NFL, and his addition to the squad makes the Jets contention as an AFC powerhouse legitimate. So there you have it, the Jets have their leader.

Oh, and did I mention he’s a pretty good safety too? The secondary and pass defense of the Jets (ranked 22nd in the NFL) has been the weak link of the squad, and now they have a guy with 61 career interceptions under his belt. Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen are the current safeties for the Jets. They have made big plays, but also have blown coverages.

Ed Reed can help improve the Jets’ secondary, and mentor the young guys that look to be the Jets’ future at that position. He will be officially replacing Antonio Allen, partnering up with another former teammate from Baltimore in Landry as the starting safeties for Gang Green. There is so much to gain, and so little to lose. It’s a low-risk move for the Jets, who are paying him loose change compared to the $5 million he made for five games with the Texans.

As if the move doesn’t have enough intrigue, the Jets travel to Baltimore next weekend to play the Ravens--Reed and Ryan’s former team. There, we will see if Ed Reed still has “it”. If he doesn’t, this move still gives the Jets one heck of a leader, as you should now expect to see them playing in January.

NFL Deadline Deals that Should Have Happened

Another NFL trade deadline came and went with little to show for it. Being the hopeless romantic I am, I spent the days prior thinking of some deals that seemed both exciting and logical--but then 4:00 pm came. I kept refreshing different websites to see if any last-second moves would be made, but it was all for naught. I couldn’t really make sense of it. There were too many opportunities for good teams to become great and bad teams to, well, still be bad--but not for as long of a time. Still, nothing happened.

No disrespect is intended to the lone deal at the deadline, nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga getting sent to the Patriots with a sixth-rounder for a fifth. Smart move by the Pats, who lost Pro-Bowl Defensive Lineman Vince Wilfork for the season, but the deal hardly widened my eyes. I’ve been spending the days since Tuesday trying to figure out if I’m dumb for not seeing why the deals I thought up didn’t happen, or if I’m a genius who should be hired by an NFL team immediately to help with personnel decisions.

I’m hoping it’s not the former, and know it’s probably not the latter, but I’ll let you be the judge. Here are the three deals I think should’ve been made before Tuesday’s deadline:

Kenny Britt to Indianapolis for a sixth round pick

I wouldn’t be shocked if it were a seventh, actually. While they were not too vocal about it, both sides clearly hoped to part ways before Tuesday. Britt did say he would be open to a “fresh start”, and reports were that the Titans were strongly shopping him.

Seeing Reggie Wayne go down with a season-ending injury was extremely difficult for the Colts and for NFL football fans, but you can’t sit and sulk when you are in charge of a organization eyeing a playoff run. The Colts are sitting above the AFC South (admittedly the same division the Titans are in), and are clearly playing at a much higher level than the other teams in their division. Nothing is a sure thing in football, but for the Colts to not win the South this year would be extremely surprising. Once Indianapolis gets to the playoffs, though, how can they compete if their offense (which has a struggling running game as well) doesn’t have the weapons to put points on the board? The Colts have their speedy, explosive wideout in TY Hilton, but need someone to at least try to replace what the team lost in Wayne.

A consistent, reliable, talented target would elevate the Colts from a team that can win a weak division to a legitimate contender to come out of the AFC. Darrius Heyward-Bey is not that guy. He has a history of inconsistency and is injury prone. As a matter of fact, at the time I am writing this article, he is currently questionable for the first game he is slated to be the second receiver. And the third receiver for the Colts? No one. Seriously. I can throw a name at you, and maybe by the time you read this some random undrafted kid from Montana State goes for 300 yards, but they really have no one. Chuck Pagano was asked who their 3rd receiver was, and he actually laughed and said, “I don’t know. Shake them up, pull a name out of a hat.”

I challenge Griff Whalen, David Reed, or Lavon Brazill to prove me wrong; I really do. And the reason you don’t know those guys’ names is because THE COLTS DO NOT HAVE A 3RD RECEIVER. From NFL Media columnist Michael Silver: “If you have a 12-pack of Coke and athletic tape, you can have Kenny Britt.” A late-round pick to add some talent to a perhaps dead offense that is trying to make a run at the Super Bowl? A no-brainer. Seems like the Colts didn’t have any soda lying around.

Tony Gonzalez to the Chiefs for a fourth round pick

Would this not be the most beautiful ending to an already incredible career? When I watch Tony Gonzalez play, I can’t fathom the fact that he was planning on retiring after last season. And with him playing at such a high level, it seems as if the Football gods set up this situation perfectly for Tony. Gonzalez became an NFL superstar during his 12 years with the Chiefs, and for him to end his career there would just seem right. But that’s not why I think this deal would be perfect--it simply makes sense. Andy Reid has the Chiefs playing their best football since I’ve been alive, as they sit at 8-0. It seems like they have a star at every position--except for, you guessed it, a tight end. Anthony Fasano is far from a star, and 25-year-old Sean McGrath can learn a lot from Gonzalez.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez is playing for a team in the Falcons that are sitting at 2-5 with a difficult schedule ahead. The Falcons are playing at a low-level, and it seems Tony is going to finish his career in a “fitting” way--by missing the playoffs. Gonzalez has only won one playoff game in his career, which was last year. But it doesn’t have to end like this. The Falcons don’t need Gonzalez anymore. They’re missing the playoffs, and can use the mid-round draft pick. With the pick, they can get a solid offensive lineman to help give Matt Ryan some more protection to throw to a healthy Julio Jones and Roddy White next season, and more importantly, help Steven Jackson and their terrible running game get some space to run. The Chiefs DO need Gonzalez.

We can sit around dropping our jaws at the Chiefs 8-0 (and with the dismal Bills coming up, probably 9-0) record, but their schedule up to this point has been weak. By using the eye-test, they don’t seem to be on their division rival Denver Broncos’ level. With Gonzalez, the Chiefs passing game can go from pretty good to great, and we will have a true Super Bowl contender on our hands.

If Tony Gonzalez didn’t want to have this deal done, it shouldn’t have been. I do, however, feel that he couldn’t reject the opportunity if approached by Atlanta management saying: “It’s up to you. We can trade you back to where you spent the majority of your career so you can compete with a sure-fire playoff team who has their eyes on realistic Super Bowl goals. Or you can stay here, have fun, and finish the year and your career with an organization who has no shot at the playoffs.” Fine, maybe the Falcons wouldn’t say exactly that, but what right-minded man wouldn’t take that opportunity. Maybe he really likes the schooling system in Atlanta for his kids, but you only get one shot--in his case--at a Super Bowl.

When he is 70 and looking back at his career accomplishments, I think Gonzalez would agree with me that it was worth a shot. And when the Chiefs are one and done in this year’s playoffs (unless they get the Colts, who with no passing game and Kenny Britt, is an easy win), I think they will be sorry they didn’t make the deal as well.

Jared Allen to the 49ers for a 5th/6th round pick

If you have watched the Vikings play this season, I don’t have to tell you how terrible they are, and how helpless their 2013 season is. Most people allude to the primetime Monday Night Football game against the Giants as proof of their laughable play. But for everyone who saw that game, they can admit that one play stuck out--Jared Allen’s sack on Eli Manning while an offensive lineman was standing in between them.

I saw that, and it confirmed something I already knew: Jared Allen’s still got it. He’s in the final year of his contract with Minnesota, who obviously do not need him at this point. The 49ers, meanwhile, have been playing inconsistent football, but still have realistic intentions of finishing what they started last season and winning the Super Bowl. An addition of Jared Allen can make the 49ers defense the best in the league (they are currently trailing the Seahawks in that department), and take San Francisco one step closer to New York in February.

This is probably the biggest stretch of the three on this list, although I still think the move should have been made. Allen’s base salary is about $14.2 million, meaning he would be due $7.5 million over the rest of the year. The 49ers were going for this deal because they knew that they afford him, but it would put a strain on their salary cap. They were aware of what Allen could bring to the team, though, and if that was a Super Bowl, the move would obviously be a brilliant one. The Vikings, meanwhile, would lose the obligation of having to pay that large sum of money, and receive a late-round pick (because of the money factor) as well. Another deal that made sense for both sides, but wasn’t able to get done.

As a fan of a team that is not the Chiefs, Colts, or 49ers, though, I am happy they couldn’t get these deals done. Any of these trades would’ve made those teams scary good, and put the rest of the NFL on notice. A lot of teams feel like they can do it with the players they have on their rosters right now. I’m sorry to break it to them, though, but only one team is going to be right about that assumption. The other 31 may have wished they had done something before Tuesday. I know NFL fans did.

Event Recap: Brian Friedman ('95)

On Friday, September 27th, the Sports Business Society was pleased to present its first in-person speaker of the year, Brian Friedman (’95). A graduate from CALS, Friedman is currently in his fourth year as the Chief Financial Officer for the New York Jets.

On his current role...

Friedman kicked off the discussion describing what responsibilities came with his position, and what tasks he was expected to complete on a daily basis. In his role, he told listeners, he oversees everything financial within the Jets organization, requiring him to know “a little about a lot.” He put his own twist on a popular phrase, describing that his job requires him to be "the jack of all trades, master of all trades." Learning about all fields is an essential aspect of his job, equipping him with the knowlege challenge experts and monitor investments put forth by the team in all areas. For that reason, there is no standard day for him--but he was not one to complain. "The variety of tasks," he explained, "keeps things interesting."

On his uncommon transition...

Before joining the Jets, Friedman was the CFO of Blissworld, LLC, a spa and retail product company. When asked about his career path, he told the audience of what he called “the common transition from women’s skin care to football.” While he may have gotten laughs, he viewed the transition as logical. He never fully understood the skin care products he was selling, but his job wasn’t to convince women to buy the product--that’s not in the CFO’s job description. For the same reason, he later pointed out, Jets owner Woody Johnson didn’t care nor ask whether or not Friedman was an avid Jets fan, but instead if he could get the job done.

Friedman stressed that he values every step in his path toward being where he is today. When giving advice to the students later in the discussion, he explained that he felt “the days of taking one job and staying there for life are over.” He thinks that if an individual only works at one place for his/her entire life, that individual will not be able to see other ways of getting things done. The knowledge received in early jobs, he continued, is even more crucial than compensation. Learning curves should be steep, and if they begin to level off, he advises for an individual to do something about it to make it steep again. He doesn’t believe he would be where he is today without his earlier positions and the knowledge, skills, and abilities he attained through them.

On hosting Super Bowl XLVIII...

With the Super Bowl coming to New York, Friedman was asked numerous questions concerning his feelings and approach going into the mega-event. While excited, Friedman illustrated the extreme difficulty behind the preparation. He constantly has to go through every conceivable thing that can happen during the game, but as he told the crowd, you never really can go through every possible situation.

He was in New Orleans for last years Super Bowl, sitting in the same box as the event planners and big names responsible for the game that year. The lights went out during the 3rd quarter, postponing the game for 34 minutes, causing a frantic scene in the box he was sitting in, and perhaps making him second-guess the pleasantries behind hosting the Super Bowl.

In any case, he explained, he is happy to bring such an amazing event to New York--or, technically, New Jersey. "On Sundays, Metlife Stadium is already the fifth largest city in New Jersey," he said half-serious, we can only imagine what it will be like when that Sunday in February brings the largest annual sports event to the bright lights in the Meadowlands.

His advice to students...

When asked to give advice to students who may want to pursue the same career that Friedman did, he told the crowd to go out and learn. He pointed towards the learning curve alluded to earlier and told the room to understand a skill, and go for things--don’t stay on the sidelines. The best business advice that he claimed he’s ever gotten to this day is that it’s “better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission." Make mistakes, learn from them, and don’t stop learning. Friedman clearly remembers what it was like to be in the students’ shoes, and seemed passionate and sincere while sharing this advice.

As always, the Cornell Sports Business Society extends its thanks to alumni like Brian Friedman who take time to share their experiences with our members. The information and insight people like Friedman provide to our group is unique and indispensable, and we hope that this is the first of many great events with him.