2012 NFL Free Agency Preview-Defensive Backs

We continue our big 2012 Free Agency Preview with a look at the defensive back class:

Safeties

1)Dashon Goldson (San Francisco): To me he is the cream of the crop in this safety class.

2)Michael Griffin (Tennessee): He is a solid player who is still young enough to contribute at a high level.

3) LaRon Landry (Washington): If he stays healthy, he can still play at an All-Pro level.

4) Tyvon Branch (Oakland): Lost in the mess of the Raiders' defensive play last year, Branch is a quality pickup.

5) Reggie Nelson (Cincy): Another solid addition to a secondary, but he may be better suited to stay with the Bengals.

6) Jim Leonhard (NY Jets): He is a fan favorite in New York, but injuries have ended his seasons the last two years. If he stays healthy, he is still a good core guy to have on your team.

7) Dwight Lowery (Jacksonville): He left the Jets because the Jets were too worried about signing Nnamdi Asomugha last year. He could be a real nice addition for a team in need of safety help.

8) Thomas DeCoud (Atlanta): At the right price, he can step in and start for your team and improve your secondary.

9) Jordan Babineaux (Tennessee): He has been around awhile, but at 30 he can still step in and become a starter.

10) Deon Grant ( NY Giants): Starters on Super Bowl champions always get looked at closely, and he can be a viable option at a bargain price.

*Under the Radar Player: Craig Steltz (Chicago): Steltz could be another guy that could be a had for a bargain price. He is a high motor guy that could really come in and add some fire to your defensive backfield.

**Possible Broncos Addition: I have heard some rumors about Dwight Lowery. I wasn't the biggest fan of his when he was on the Jets, but the Broncos need to add some depth at safety. If Brian Dawkins doesn't return, then maybe someone like Lowery could step in and provide some experience in addition to guys like Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter. Another name I would look at is Tom Zbikowski. He can also return kicks, and he would be another depth guy to add to the young safety core.

Cornerbacks

1) Brandon Carr (Kansas City): The best CB available in free agency hands down.

2) Cortland Finnegan (Tennessee): I am a big fan of Finnegan, and I still think he can play very effectively. He would be a really good addition to a team.

3) Brent Grimes (Atlanta): The Falcons will probably end up keeping him, but he could the the jewel of this crop of corners.

4) Tracy Porter (New Orleans): The hero of Super Bowl XLIV had a down year last year, but I have seen enough of him in the past to make me think he can be a great addition to a secondary.

5) Carlos Rogers (San Francisco): He was fantastic for the Niners in 2011. Can he do it again in 2012 with a big contract?

6) Richard Marshall (Arizona): He could be a viable option for a team in need of corner help.

7) Terrell Thomas (NY Giants): He is coming off a torn ACL suffered in August, but he was the Giants best cornerback before the injury. If he checks out medically, he is a really solid player.

8) William Gay (Pittsburgh): Is he a product of the system in Pittsburgh? We could very well find out this offseason.

9) Tim Jennings (Chicago): He was an overachiever in my opinion, but will a change in scenery actually hurt his play?

10) Aaron Ross (NY Giants): He is an enigma. At times he plays well, and you would like to have him as your number two cornerback. Then, there are times where he looks lost and gets killed repeatedly.

*Under the Radar Player: Corey Graham (Chicago): Another underrated player who could come in and contribute for a decent price. He didn't get a lot of publicity outside of Chicago, but he impressed me every time I watched the Bears.

**Possible Broncos Addition: To me the big move Denver should make is to go get Brandon Carr. He is in the prime of his career, and the Chiefs just signed Stanford Routt. If Denver doesn't want to pay so high for Carr, which might be the harsh reality, then the Broncos could make a play for a guy like Richard Marshall, the former Panther, and that move would make a lot of sense.

2012 NFL Free Agency Preview-Linebackers

We continue with our 2012 Free Agency Preview. Now we take a look at the best linebackers available this offseason. Middle linebacker is a position that the Broncos have not had a top player at since Al Wilson retired in 2006. Here are the top LBs in the this year's free agency class:

Inside Linebackers

1) Curtis Lofton-Atlanta: The Falcons will most likely get him signed long term.

2) Stephen Tulloch-Detroit: His great production last year made him a lot of money this year.

3) London Fletcher-Washington: His age is up there (37), but he is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. He would be a great fit for a Super Bowl contender.

4) David Hawthorne-Seattle: He will be a very popular name once he hits the open market.

5) Jameel McClain-Baltimore: He filled in nicely when Ray Lewis went down this season. He is a really solid player.

6) Dan Connor-Carolina: He could be the run stuffer some teams need on the inside. He might not be flashy, but for the right price he could present good value.

7) Bradie James-Dallas: I still like him, and he could also be a nice addition to a contending team.

8) E.J. Henderson-Minnesota: At 32, he might not be the same player that he once was, but for a good price he still can be productive.

9) Barrett Ruud-Tennessee: Maybe going to a new team can revive his career.

10) Chase Blackburn-NY Giants: He came in halfway through the season because the Giants were getting killed by injuries, and all he did was make plays and be around the ball late in the season and into the playoffs.

*Under the Radar Player: Jonathan Goff-New York Giants: He is coming off a torn ACL, but he is still only 26. He was expected to start in New York, but maybe he can come in at a lower price and if he is healthy enough, he can contribute.

**Possible Broncos Addition: Joe Mays is a nice player, but the Broncos desperately need help at the MLB spot. Dan Connor would be the choice for me. He can reunite with John Fox, and he could come in and start right away for the Broncos.

Outside Linebackers

1) Jarret Johnson-Baltimore: I can't see the Ravens letting him go.

2)Erin Henderson-Minnesota: Solid player perhaps just hitting his stride.

3) Leroy Hill-Seattle: Intriguing player but he has some character concerns.

4) Manny Lawson-Cincy: Solid player on a solid defense.

5) Phillip Wheeler-Indy: The Colts should do what they can to keep him.

6) Rocky McIntosh-Washington: Would be better suited for a 4-3 team.

7) Erik Walden-Green Bay: An underrated player who could come in and start right away.

8)Aaron Maybin-NY Jets: Maybe Rex Ryan was able to reboot his career.

9) Gary Guyton-New England: Not a starter, but someone who could come in and add some depth.

10) Wesley Woodyard-Denver: A solid special teams player, and a nickel linebacker.

*Under the Radar Player: Brady Poppinga: I always liked him in Green Bay, but he didn't stand out in St.Louis last season. He is in his thirties, but he could maybe revive his career as a backup player on a new team.

**Possible Broncos Addition: I would try to resign Wesley Woodyard because he is solid nickel defender and he adds a lot to the special teams units. There isn't too much out there in this OLB class that makes you want to spend all some cash. The Broncos have Von Miller and D.J Williams as their outside backers right now. Someone like Erik Walden could provide some depth for them next season.

2012 NFL Free Agency Preview-Defensive Line

After a one-year hiatus due to the lockout, it is once again that time to take a look at the upcoming crop of free agents in the National Football League. I am going to give a top 10 list of free agents at each position, and I will also give my opinion on one under-the-radar bargain free agent that could be a real value pickup for a team. Additionally, I will add what might make some sense for the Broncos at those positions. With that said. Here is the list of the top 10 Defensive Linemen available in the free agency.

*Disclaimer: By the time the NFL free agency signing period begins on March 13th, some of these names might have been already resigned to their current team.

Defensive Ends

1) Mario Williams- Houston: He is the cream of the crop in this year's DE free agent class.

2) Cliff Avril- Detroit: Terrific player, but there is a good chance he ends up staying with Detroit.

3) Jeremy Mincey- Jacksonville: He could be the Charles Johnson of the 2012 class.

4) Anthony Spencer- Dallas: If he plays to his potential, he would be a solid addition to any defense.

5) Robert Mathis- Indianapolis: Is he on the downside of his career?

6) John Abraham- Atlanta: At 34, can he still bring it? Who is going to shell out that much for him at this point in his career?

7) Mark Anderson- New England: The Pats revitalized his career. He is better off staying in New England.

8) Israel Idonije- Chicago: He is an underrated, solid player. Would love to see him in Denver somehow.

9) Andre Carter- New England: Last year might be an aberration. I wouldn't go after him.

10) Kory Biermann- Atlanta: Maybe a change of scenery can get him going again.

*Under the Radar Player: Antwan Applewhite- Carolina: Perhaps John Fox gets him to follow him over to the Mile High city.

**Possible Broncos Addition: I wouldn't mind to see Denver got get Kory Biermann. He is only 26, and he had a pretty good season in 2010. They might be able to get him on the cheaper side.

Defensive Tackles

1) Calais Campbell-Arizona: The best free agent defensive lineman on the board. No way that the Cardinals let him go.

2) Paul Soliai-Miami: Will get big money from a traditional 3-4 team.

3) Jason Jones-Tennessee: I have always liked him, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with Jeff Fisher in St.Louis.

4) Red Bryant-Seattle: His versatility makes him very attractive in the open market.

5) Sione Puoha-NY Jets: His age might be a factor (33), but he is a classic run stuffer.

6) Cory Redding-Baltimore: Anytime you can get someone from the Ravens defense, it probably is a smart move.

7) Broderick Bunkley-Denver: He was a real solid player against the run for the Broncos. Denver really needs to resign him.

8) Kendall Langford-Miami: The Dolphins might have no choice but to let him go. He is an interesting and intriguing player on the defensive front.

9) Derek Landri-Philly: He could be a solid rotational guy for a decent price.

10) Shaun Rogers-New Orleans: For a 1 year deal, he would be a great choice for a contending team.

*Under the Radar Player: Trevor Laws-Philadelphia: He is not a big name guy, but for a cheap price, he could be a solid rotational player at DT. Plus, he is only 26 years old.

**Possible Broncos Addition: First, the Broncos need to resign Broderick Bunkley. Next, they need to resign Marcus Thomas. Remember, they are getting Ty Warren back from injury, and Kevin Vickerson returns from missing 13 games last season. Maybe free agency isn't the way to go for adding talent at defensive tackle. If they go for a bigger fish, I would like to see them make a run at Jason Jones from the Titans.

2011 NFL Rewind-A Look Back

After the NFL season ends, it is very common for the die hard NFL fan to take a break and a step away from football. Think about it: The hardcore NFL fan has just thrusted him or herself into a five month binge of football. Once the Super Bowl ends, it is a good time to step away, reunite with your other family members, take in some movies or other television shows, read a few books, exercise, eat healthy, and pay attention to your job again. After about a few weeks of that, Joe NFL Fan decides that it is time to look ahead to the next season that seems so far away. That means free agency, trades, the NFL Draft, the release of the NFL schedule, minicamps, and OTAs. With all of those exciting aspects of the NFL offseason coming up- I'm sorry-the "Non-playing season" coming up, it is always fun to go back and see what happened to all those picks that were made in August. My favorite time to write is right when the season is going to start in September. I love trying to figure out which teams will be good, which will fail miserably, which will surprise, and which will disappoint. Unlike most of the analysts and talking heads, I don't just pick 9 or 10 of last year's playoff teams and predict that they will be back. I'll leave those predictions for the Peter King's of the world, but as I have said before: When you make NFL predictions, you have to be bold and take some chances. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fun, and the season usually turns out unpredictable anyway, so why not try to be ahead of the curve. Unlike most analysts and writers, I like to go back and see what I got right and what I got wrong. Before I get to my predictions, remember I always try to use a formula for each season. On average 6 teams that made the playoffs the previous year make it back the next. That leaves 6 teams that made it the previous year on the outside looking in the next year.

Here are the results for 2011: Six teams that returned from 2010: New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Green Bay and Atlanta.

Six teams that missed out on the 2011 playoffs after making it in 2010: New York Jets, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Another year and another example of how the formula holds true. Without further ado here is my 2011 NFL Rewind- A look back at my predictions for the 2011 NFL season.........

AFC EAST

My Predictions

1-New England (11-5)

2-New York Jets (10-6)*Wild Card

3-Miami Dolphins (7-9)

4-Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Actual Records: New England won the East with a 13-3 record. The Jets finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. Miami and Buffalo both finished 6-10.

Footnotes:

-I had the Pats winning the division, so I get credit for that.

-I was nervous about the Jets going into the season, but I felt better about them when they were 8-5. Their collapse at the end of the season confirmed my worst fears about them.

-The Dolphins finished right where I thought they would finish, and I nailed the Bills dead on.

AFC North

1-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

2-Cleveland Browns (9-7)*Wild Card

3-Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

4-Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)

Actual Records: Baltimore won the North with a 12-4 record. The Steelers finished 12-4 and took a wild card berth. The Bengals finished 9-7 and got the other wild card. Cleveland finished in last with a 4-12 record.

Footnotes:

-I thought either the Ravens or the Jets would miss the playoffs in 2011. I picked the Jets to make it and the Ravens to miss it, and I was dead wrong on that one.

-I had Pittsburgh winning the division and they didn't, but they made the playoffs as a wild card, so I at least had them in the playoffs.

-The Browns were my 2011 sleeper pick, and they were awful. I was so off on this pick that it was embarrassing that I even considered them. I was trying to think outside the box, and I got nailed for that one.

-The Bengals totally exceeded my expectations, and I was shocked that they won 9 games.

AFC South

1-Houston Texans (10-6)

2-Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

3-Tennessee Titans (7-9)

4-Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Actual Records: Houston won the division at 10-6. The Titans finished second with a 9-7 record. Jacksonville finished with a 5-11 record. Indy finished last with a 2-14 mark.

Footnotes:

-Peyton Manning's injury totally screwed up everything when trying to make predictions. Originally, it seemed that Peyton might miss only a few games early in the year, so I figured that the Colts would be in trouble without him, and then he would dig them out of a hole. Then, it sounded like he might miss half the season, so I went with the idea that they would be like 2-6 when he came back, and he would at least help them get to 8-8. Obviously, if I had known that he would miss the entire season, then I would have picked them to finish last.

-Once Manning was injured, it was easy to pick the Texans to win the South.

-The Titans exceeded my expectations by two games, but I still had them missing the playoffs.

-I nailed the Jaguars pick pretty easily.

AFC West

1-San Diego Chargers (12-4)

2-Oakland Raiders (7-9)

3-Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)

4-Denver Broncos (6-10)

Actual Records: Denver won the West with an 8-8 record. San Diego and Oakland both finished 8-8, and the Chiefs finished last at 7-9.

Footnotes:

-I was shocked that Denver won the division, but if Tim Tebow had started the season at QB, then I think I might have picked them to go 8-8. Remember, at the time I made the predictions, Kyle Orton was firmly entrenched as the Broncos starter. I wasn't totally sold on Orton or the Broncos at that point.

-I was totally wrong on the Chargers. I think I pick the Chargers every year, but this year they failed to live up to expectations. They started off 1-4, but a six-game losing streak killed their chances.

-I got the Raiders prediction pretty good, and I was one of the few people that didn't like the Raiders going into the season.

-It was easy to see that the Chiefs would fall off from their surprising 2010 season, and I nailed that record exactly for them.

2011 AFC Playoff Predictions:

1-San Diego (12-4)

2-New England (11-5)

3-Pittsburgh (10-6)

4-Houston (10-6)

5-NY Jets (10-6)

6-Cleveland (9-7)

AFC Wild Card Weekend

5-NY Jets over 4-Houston

3-Pittsburgh over 6-Cleveland

AFC Divisional Round

1-San Diego over 5-NY Jets

2-New England over 3-Pittsburgh

AFC Title

1-San Diego over New England

Footnotes:

-I did have Houston hosting their first ever playoff game, but I had them losing in the first round, and they actually won their first playoff game.

-I would really like to have that Jets playoff win back.

-I can't even look at that Browns pick again.

-I had New England winning its' first playoff game. I knew they weren't going to lose four straight playoff games.

-I did have New England in the AFC Championship, but I had them losing to the Chargers. San Diego not making the playoffs really screwed my postseason predictions.

NFC Predictions

NFC East

1-Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)

2-Dallas Cowboys (10-6) *Wild Card

3-NY Giants (8-8)

4-Washington Redskins (7-9)

Actual Records: The Giants won the East with a 9-7 record. Philly and Dallas both finished at 8-8, and the Redskins finished 5-11 and in last place.

Footnotes:

-I bought into the Philly "Dream Team" hype, and I picked the Eagles to win the division. I figured that with Mike Vick coming back and those free agent pickups would do enough to vault them to the top of the division. Obviously, the Eagles disappointed me all season long, and they didn't live up to my expectations at all.

-Dallas making the wild card looked good until they faltered down the stretch. If they had won that home Sunday Night game against the Giants, that would have gotten them into the playoffs, but they lost a close game, and I just missed out with them making the playoffs.

-I thought the Giants were in for a rough season. They didn't do much in free agency, and their injuries were alarming. There was a lot of doubt about this team heading into the season, and I thought they weren't going to overcome it. I was dead wrong, and once again the Giants got hot at the right time at the end of the season and into the playoffs.

-The Redskins fell exactly where I thought they would fall, and I wasn't sold on either Rex Grossman or John Beck, and it proved to be an issue all year long.

NFC North

1-Green Bay Packers (11-5)

2-Detroit Lions (9-7)* Wild Card

3-Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

4-Chicago Bears (5-11)

Actual Records: Green Bay won the North with a 15-1 record. Detroit finished second at 10-6 and gained a wildcard berth. The Bears finished third at 8-8, and the Vikings finished last at 3-13.

Footnotes:

-I nailed the first two spots in this division. I had the Packers winning the division, and that was a solid pick.

-A lot of people loved the Lions early in August, and then by September people were saying that they were a year away. I was glad I stuck with them, and I nailed that pick. I had them in the playoffs from day one, and I never wavered on that pick, and they proved me right.

-I was way off with the Vikings. I thought they would be a feisty team with Donovan McNabb, and they were far from that. I had them at .500, and they were nowhere close to that.

-I take credit for not picking the Bears to make the playoffs, but I got lucky on this pick. The Bears would have made the playoffs if Jay Cutler didn't get hurt, and they were actually a lot better than I expected them to be.

NFC South

1-New Orleans Saints (10-6)

2-Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

3-Carolina Panthers (7-9)

4-Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10)

Actual Records: The Saints won the division with a 13-3 record. The Falcons finished second at 10-6 and made the playoffs. The Panthers finished third at 6-10, and the Bucs finished last at 4-12.

Footnotes:

-I got the Saints prediction right, and I had them winning the division.

-I thought the Falcons were going to miss the playoffs, but they ended up winning 10 games and making it in. For a little while it looked like Atlanta was going to miss the playoffs, and I was going to be right on this one, but they ended up turning it around and getting in.

-I nailed the Panthers pretty good. I had them winning 7 games, and they ended up winning 6.

-I never bought into the Raheem Morris regime, and I knew they were not going to live up to their surprising 2010 season. I had them finishing last with 6 wins, and I was dead on with that prediction. The Bucs were disappointing all season, and they ended up with only 4 wins.

NFC West

1-Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

2-San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

3-St.Louis Rams (7-9)

4-Seattle Seahawks (4-12)

Actual Records: San Francisco won the West with a 13-3 record. Arizona finished second at 8-8. Seattle finished third at 7-9. The Rams finished last at 2-14.

Footnotes:

-This was such a tough division to predict because no team jumped out at you right away. I went with the Cardinals because I thought that Kevin Kolb would make a difference, and I think Ken Whisenhunt is a solid coach. The Cards started off terrible, but rallied to finish at 8-8. Kolb was shaky at QB, and he ended up getting hurt for most of the season. I might have been a year away with the Cards.

-The Niners were this year's surprise team. I thought they were at least a year away, and I didn't buy into Alex Smith. They proved me wrong as they won 13 games and the division.

-I had a feeling the Rams weren't going to live up to preseason expectations, and I was correct. However, I was surprised they only won 2 games-at least I gave the 7 wins.

-I thought Seattle was going to bottom out mainly because they were going with Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. It looked ugly early on, but they turned their season around, and fought hard to win 7 games. I was wrong about Seattle big time.

NFC Playoff Predictions 2011:

NFC PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS:

1) Philly (12-4) NFC East

2) Green Bay (11-5) NFC North

3) New Orleans (10-6) NFC South

4) Arizona (9-7) NFC West

5) Dallas (10-6) Wild Card

6) Detroit (9-7) Wild Card

Wild Card Weekend

3-New Orleans over 6-Detroit

5-Dallas over Arizona

Divisional Weekend

1-Philly over 5-Dallas

3-New Orleans over 2-Green Bay

NFC Championship

3-New Orleans over 1-Philly

Footnotes:

-I nailed one of the Wild Card games dead on. I had the Saints over Detroit, so that counts for something.

-I also was correct in saying that Green Bay would lose their first playoff game at home.

-I was close to getting the Saints in the NFC Title Game, but they fell one game short. Obviously, the Eagles didn't even get to the playoffs.

Super Bowl Prediction:

San Diego over New Orleans

Footnotes:

Having New Orleans in the Super Bowl is respectable, but picking San Diego to win it was a bad mistake by me. I did learn a lesson from this: NEVER EVER PICK A TEAM COACHED BY NORV TURNER TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!! Anyway, the Chargers did battle back from a 4-7 record to finish 8-8. If they made the playoffs, they would have been the team that no one wanted to play in the AFC, and the best part for Broncos fans is that the Chargers brought Norv back for another season.

FINAL PREDICTIONS ANALYSIS:

I correctly predicted 6 teams to make the playoffs (New England, Houston, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Green Bay, and Detroit).

Also, I got 4 out of the 8 division winners correct (NE, NO, GB, and HOUS). To get 6 out of 12 playoff teams correct in the NFL is not too bad. As always it leaves with me a goal. Maybe next year I can get all 12 teams correct. That sounds impossible and unlikely, but with just like the NFL players and teams, I have all offseason to gear up and get ready.

Super Bowl XLVI Recap!

The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI. Eli Manning was named the game's MVP, and the Giants and Tom Coughlin won their second Super Bowl in four years. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Patriots suffered their second Super Bowl loss in four years to the same Giants organization. So much as been written and said about the game, so here are my thoughts and observations of Super Bowl XLVI.............

I. The flow of the game was interesting. It was a good game, but it wasn't an all time great game. There were no big, spectacular plays until Mario Manningham made that huge catch late in the fourth quarter. Also, I was just waiting for both offenses to start trading scores back and forth and it just never materialized. I don't know if it was NBC's broadcast, but there was very little crowd noise filtering through to the television set. It seemed like quite a contrast to the game that was played four years ago. Overall, a very good game, but not a classic by any stretch. As long as it was close in the fourth quarter, then you are happy.

II. The Patriots scored on Brady to Danny Woodhead 4 yard touchdown completion with five seconds left in the half to make it 10-9. The Pats go the ball to start the third quarter, and they went right down the field and scored again. This time Brady hit Aaron Hernandez with a 12We yard touchdown to make it 17-9. At that point, you had to feel good about New England's chances of winning the game.

III. The Patriots had leads of 17-12 and 17-15 in the third and fourth quarters. They couldn't get another score to extend their lead. At 17-12, the Patriots went three and out, and Justin Tuck got to Brady to force the punt on third down with a huge sack. At 17-15, the Pats had gotten two first downs on the drive and they had 1st and 10 at their own 43. Brady avoided a sack and launched a deep ball intended for Rob Gronkowski. Chase Blackburn was with him step for step and picked it off at the the Giants 8 yard line. It was a huge play because it was 1st down at the time, and Brady forced it because Blackburn had Gronk well covered. That was a huge turn of events. Plus, they couldn't finish the game off late in the fourth quarter, and gave the Giants the ball back with just under four minutes to go. When you have a great offense with Tom Brady, you have to put games away. They did all year, but they didn't do it in this game.

IV. Wes Welker's drop will haunt the Pats and their fans all offseason. Yes, Brady's pass was a little behind him, but the ball hit Welker right in hands, and he simply dropped it. He makes that catch every week during the season, and he dropped it in the biggest possible moment. If he makes that catch, then the Pats might score again and put the game out of reach. Right there, I felt that the door was left open, and gave the Giants the chance to win it.

V. Eli Manning to Mario Mannigham will be the other play that haunts the Patriots, and it will go down as the play of the game. The 38 yard completion was the first play of the Giants final series with 3:46 to play. The Giants were starting the drive at their own 12, and this amazing throw and catch pushed the ball out to midfield. At that point you just knew the Giants were going to win the game. It felt like the end was coming for the Patriots.

VI. Belichick's strategy to let Ahmad Bradshaw score was really his only hope of giving his team a realistic chance to score. I hate letting a team score, but it was his only option at that point. I also don't fault Bradshaw for scoring-although he did try to stop himself by momentum carried him in. It was another odd play in a game filled with some awkward moments. The NFL Films footage won't be so dramatic as you see Bradshaw kind of squat and plop down in the endzone like he was taking a shit. It definitely lost the sense of the moment, but it was important because it put the Giants up 21-17, and it gave the Patriots 57 seconds left and one timeout to try and win it.

VII. The Patriots at least had a decent chance to win it on the final drive which made the game more compelling at the end. Brady threw a pass a little behind Deion Branch on the first play of the drive, and if Branch catches it then, he is running at least to the 50 before a Giant even touches him. Branch dropped it, and that kind of summed up how the Patriots were unable to make plays late to win the game. Aaron Hernandez dropped the next pass over the middle, and Tuck sacked Brady to force the Pats to take their last timeout. It was eerily similar to Jay Alford's sack of Brady late in Super Bowl XLII. Of course Brady converts a 4th and 16, but he was only able to muster a desperate Hail Mary pass at the end of the game that fell short. Speaking of the Hail Mary, when I was watching it live it looked like Gronkowski almost caught it on the tip, and for a second it looked like he did. After watching the replay from other angles, it was clear that it wasn't as close as it first looked live. Anytime you get a Super Bowl to end on a Hail Mary, I think anyone would take that as a football fan.

VIII. Eli Manning has cemented his legacy in the NFL with his second Super Bowl ring. He has put himself in the elite level of NFL QBs, and he is true franchise quarterback. He is no doubt the best QB in the clutch in the NFL, and he has also established himself as one of the all-time great Giants, and one day they will be retiring his number 10 at Metlife Stadium. At this rate, statues will be built of Manning, and schools might be named after him in the New York/New Jersey area. As a native New Yorker, Manning joins the likes of Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Patrick Ewing, Mark Messier, and Derek Jeter as the iconic NY sports figures in my lifetime. Eli called himself elite before the season, and he proved that at the end of the season.

IX. Tom Coughlin has taken so much shit as the New York Giants Head Coach in his tenure. So many fans were calling for his head when the Giants were 7-7, and there was a real thought that he was coaching for his job down the stretch. All Coughlin did was win the NFC East, and win another Super Bowl. He is a superb in-game coach, and he never makes it about him. It is all about his team, and it refreshing to see that the organization was patient and let him coach the way he knows how. He now joins Bill Parcells as the greatest Giants coaches of all-time, and he is quietly making a compelling argument for a Hall of Fame nod in Canton.

X. The biggest storyline for me going into the Super Bowl was the legacy of Belichick and Brady. I picked the Pats to win only because I couldn't see Brady and Belichick lose another Super Bowl four years after they lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. This lose is definitely a dent in their armor. They are both fantastic at what they do, and they will be Hall of Famers, but I don't think they are a lock in any playoff game or Super Bowl. They won't win games on reputation anymore, and no one will be afraid of their mystique in a big game. It will be interesting to see how many more shots they get at a Super Bowl in the next few years.

XI. The Giants will be featured on NFL Network's Americas Game special that will review their 2011 season and the run to the Super Bowl. The show will air in September right before the season opener. They usually try to pick three different narrators from a previous team's championship, so with Coughlin and Eli already featured for the 2007 Giants, I think for this team the show will feature Justin Tuck, Victor Cruz, and Jason Pierre-Paul. The outside person could be John Mara.

XII. The Giants will also host the season opening game on NBC on Thursday September 6th. Their home schedule in 2011 is loaded with great possibilities (Steelers, Saints, Eagles, Redskins, Cowboys) but the best choice would be to match the Giants with the Packers. The last two Super Bowl Champions going at it in the season opener would be a great way to kick off the 2012 season.

XIII. From everything that was said and written, Indianapolis was a great Super Bowl city, and it deserves to host another Super Bowl. We'll see if it gets another crack at it in the near future.

XIV. The 2011 season is now over, and unfortunately the next meaningful NFL game won't be played until September of 2012. Unlike last year, there is no threat of a lockout and the NFL offseason will proceed accordingly. The Scouting Combine will get going at the end of the month, and then Free Agency will get going in early March. It will be nice to have some football talk in about a month, so this offseason will be fun. Plus, the Peyton Manning storyline will dominant the month of February. As much as it sucks that the NFL season is over, the league is always in the news, and there will be plenty of fun stuff to talk about over the next few months. Congratulations to the Giants on their win in Super Bowl XLVI.

XV: One last thought: Watching the Giants win the Super Bowl and celebrate with the parade made me think about how badly I want to see the Broncos win another Super Bowl soon. It has been 13 seasons since Denver won a Super Bowl, and it feels like it has been at least 25 years. I want the Broncos to win the Super Bowl so bad that I can almost taste it. Who knows maybe Tim Tebow will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy this time next year. That is why you have the offseason, everyone is now 0-0, and you can think about it all year long and dream about the Broncos getting back on top of the NFL world.

Super Bowl Preview and Predictions!

Super Bowl Sunday is rapidly approaching, and the hype for this game as been pretty big. The Giants and the Patriots have a lot of storylines and juicy aspects heading into this matchup. To me that is what the Super Bowl week is about. It is about breaking down the storylines, looking at the legacy of the matchup, and dissecting what this game will mean from a historical perspective years from now. This game has all of that and then some. When your team is not in the Super Bowl, all you want from a NFL fan perspective is to get a great matchup in the Super Bowl with a load of storylines. Also, if the game is good, then you really don't mind the bye week between the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl. In past years, when the game is not as sexy of a matchup (Think Pittsburgh-Arizona Super Bowl XLIII) the bye week really feels like the end of the season. You start thinking about the draft, free agency, and the wait until next season seems like an eternity. When you have a great game-like this year- the bye week feels like the calm before the storm, and it feels like the season is still coming to a final conclusion. You have the Patriots back in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are going for their 4th Super Bowl championship which will put them in a very rare class in NFL lore. Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin are both going for their 2nd Super Bowl together. A win in Super Bowl XLVI would put Eli into iconic status forever in New York, and he vault himself into a real chance for a Hall of Fame ending to his career. The same could be said for Coughlin if he wins this game. He could make the claim as the greatest Giants coach ever next to Bill Parcells. Coughlin could also advance his candidacy as a Hall of Fame coach. The best storyline in this game is the fact that these two franchises met in a classic Super Bowl just four years ago. The Giants were the big underdogs as they knocked off the 18-0 Pats, who were on their way to immortality. It was one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time, and it was one of the most important games in NFL history. The Patriots haven't been back to the Super Bowl until this year, and they lost their next two playoff games after that game. The Giants are looking to justify that victory and claim a 4th Super Bowl Championship for their storied franchise. Sprinkle in the fact that both teams are big-market franchises, led by great owners, and have tremendous fanbases. Also, you can't discount the Boston-New York rivalry and the crowd for this Super Bowl should be as non-corporate as you can get for a Super Bowl crowd. The atmosphere will be electric, the hype has been tremendous, and the anticipation of this game is rivaled by only a few games in the past 10 years.

Onto the pick for Super Bowl XLVI....

Last Week's Record: 1-1

Overall Playoff Record: 3-6-1

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots-Super Bowl XLVI

A Case for the Giants: The Giants are the hot team heading into the playoffs, and pound for pound they are probably the better team. The Giants are healthy, their defense is playing great, and they do things that on paper should give the Patriots fits. The Giants pass rush with Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyora, and Chris Canty can get to Tom Brady without a blitz, and you could end up with that look on Brady's face that screams a deer in headlights. Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career, and we know how Manning plays in big games. He has the look of a quarterback who is officially ready to take the leap to the next level of NFL QBs. Another factor in the Giants favor is that the Giants are very well coached under Tom Coughlin. He has already beaten Bill Belichick in a Super Bowl, and Coughlin and his staff do a great job making adjustments the second time they play a team. Look at the Green Bay and San Francisco playoff games. Coughlin and his staff made adjustments and the Giants were able to do things to those teams that they didn't do in the first matchup in the regular season. Also, the crowd in that stadium will be a pro-Giants crowd. No one outside of the Boston fans that travel to the game will be rooting for the Pats. Every marginal or neutral fan will be rooting for the Giants, and they will feel that when that enter Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. Finally, maybe the Giants, Eli, and Coughlin just have the Pats' number. They played them tough in the finale of the 2007 season, upset them in Super Bowl XLII, and they beat them in the regular season in Foxboro in November. Perhaps they just match up well with the Patriots. Maybe Coughlin can match Belichick in a big game, and maybe Brady gets rattled by this Giants team because of that vaunted pass rush.

A Case for the Patriots: The Patriots have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. No combination is more effective, steady, and great. If you have a big game, there is no doubt I would take Brady and Belichick as my QB and Head Coach. Could they really lose another Super Bowl and their second Super Bowl in four years? Could Brady actually play two bad games in a row in the biggest games of the season? When you break down the game, it is hard to see that the Patriots is great, and they will be hard to stop. If Rob Gronkowski is close to 100%, and that is a big if, then this Pats offense should be able to move the ball on this Giants secondary and put up points. Everyone points to the Patriots defense as their weakness and it is not a good unit, but they are getting healthy at the right time. Their defense may give up yards, but they get big stops and turnovers at the right time. Forget about yards against because turnovers and red zone defense is more important, and the Pats defense can make the play at the right time. Also, it gets scary when the majority of people are picking one team overwhelmingly to win a game. Everyone seems to favor the Giants in this game. That is a dangerous pick when you have Brady and Belichick standing on the other sideline. You just get the feeling that everyone is going to pick the Giants, but after the game is over everyone is going to say: How the hell did we underestimate the Brady and the Pats? Finally, sometimes you just can't mess with karma and fate. The fact that the Patriots dedicated their season to the late Myra Kraft, the wife of Patriots owner Bob Kraft. Myra passed away after a battle with cancer in late July, and her death has loomed as a motivating factor for the Patriots 2011 season. I don't want to get cheesy like Bob Costas here, but isn't it just fitting that the Pats can cap this season off with a Super Bowl win for their beloved owner who lost his wife before the season started.

The Pick: New England (-2.5) over New York Giants:

I am rooting hard for the Giants in this game, and I would love to see the G-Men beat the Pats again. The Giants are probably the better team right now, but everytime I thought about picking the Giants this week, the same thought came to my mind: I just can't see Brady and Belichick losing this game. I can't see Brady and Belichick lose to Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning again in a Super Bowl for the second time in four years. Can you imagine the dent in the legacy of Brady and Belichick if they lose this game? The Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. Think about that for a moment. With all the success they have had since 2004, the Pats have not won a Super Bowl in seven seasons. With all due respect to the Giants, this is going to be the Patriots day. Look for a close game and great game throughout. This might be one of the best Super Bowls of all time (Nothing will ever top Denver-Green Bay Super Bowl XXXII), and this game will come down to the wire. One thing to remember: In recent years when a Super Bowl is in a dome, the came gets very frantic and crazy in the fourth quarter. The teams get worn down and fatigued, and the temperature in the stadium gets cranked up a ton with all the people down on the sidelines, the pyros in the stadium, and the bloated halftime show. This fourth quarter will be frantic and wild, and the Pats and Brady will make the plays to win the game late. The Patriots will outlast the Giants, Belichick and Brady will get their fourth Super Bowl Championship, and they will cement their legacy in the annals of NFL history. Enjoy the game because it is the last NFL game until Week 1 in September.

Final Score: Patriots-29 Giants-23