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Jockey Cam

Racing from a jock\'s perspective.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/09/03/VI2010090304602.html

Jockey Cam

Cool Video from jock\'s perspective: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/09/03/VI2010090304602.html

Season Predictions

Division Winners

AFC North-Ravens

The Ravens are not going to be swept by the Bengals this year. Ray Rice is set to have a monster year as the offense has added some weapons to take people out of the box. If Joe Flacco can reestablish the poise he had his rookie year, the Ravens should win the division.

AFC South-Colts

Peyton Manning is not going to be content without winning a Superbowl this year. The Colts are where the Texans hope to be some day. Although the Texans have rising stars on their team, the Colts are loaded with talent and led by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Barring injury, the Colts run away with the division.

AFC West-Chargers

The Chargers have undergone some major changes. The fate of this season rests upon the shoulders of Ryan Matthews and now number one receiver Malcom Flloyd. The Raiders are going to make a playoff push, but this is the worst division in the AFC. The Chargers, once again, are going to win their division handedly.

AFC East- Jets

This is going to be the closest race in the NFL. The Jets and Pats have a hate-hate relationship, and conduct their teams in opposite ways. Rex Ryan preaches championships, Bill Belichick preaches the, “One game at a time” philosophy. An aging Patriots team is going to struggle at the back half of the season. I still see them making the playoffs, but the Jets are going to come out a game or two ahead in the divisional race.

NFC North-Packers

Aaron Rodgers is going to be a serious contender for MVP this year. There is no ceiling for this Packer team. The Vikings are not going to be a team they were last year with a battered offense, and Brett Favre is almost sure to regress from his career year last year. It appears as though this is the Packers’ year to grab hold of the run happy NFC North.

NFC South-Saints

The defending champs know there is a target on their back. It is going to be difficult to repeat their magical title run, but they should blow out the rest of their division. The Panthers have little experience at quarterback and the Buccaneers are in shambles. The Falcons could make it interesting if the post a nine win season like I expect they will, but looking at the Saints schedule, they should have very few speed bumps on the way to clinching the division and probably home field advantage.

NFC West-49ers

The 49ers are going to highlight the worst division in football this year. They made it a point to sure up the offensive line by grabbing two lineman in the first round and getting a line coach that is comfortable with Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Ray’s offense. The season is in the hands of Alex Smith, but with a dominating run attack, one of the best tight ends in the game, and Michael Crabtree playing a full season, it is going to be hard for him to not succeed. The Cardinals appeared to be worthy opponents, until they released Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson took the reigns.

NFC East-Cowboys

The Cowboys are going to stumble into first place in their division. The NFC East could be the most complete division in the NFL. The worst team in the division could be the New York Giants, who could easily be a wild card team. The Redskins and Donovan McNabb are going to put up a fight in the division, and the Eagles could win the division outright. There are a lot of intangibles that could lead to a surprise in this division. Kevin Kolb could step up and be the quarterback Andy Reid says he is. Donovan McNabb could step in and make the Redskins a ten win team. The Giants could return to form and Eli Manning could throw the Giants into the top spot. The most believable, however, is that the most talented offense in the division performs as they should. I don’t see any team in the division stopping their run attack.

AFC Wild Card Teams-Bengals, Patriots

The Bengals are coming off a season where they swept a competitive AFC North. They have the chance to get a head start on the Steelers while Dennis Dixon is at the helm in the absence of Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens are talented and healthy. Their games will be a struggle between the Raven defense and Bengal offense, but I see the Raven offense as a force and the Bengals could struggle. That being said, the Bengals are still a ten win team.

This may be the Pat’s last playoff run we see for a while. Randy Moss is still Randy Moss, but for how long? Wes Welker has been damaged, and Tom Brady called out his teammates earlier in the off-season for not having complete faith in Bill Belichick. It seems as though the team of the decade will not be the team of this decade. Tom Brady still has a few more good years, but this may be the Patriots last hoorah.

NFC Wild Card Teams-Falcons, Vikings

Many people have picked the Falcons to be a top team in the NFC. Their problem is that the defending champs are in their division. Michael Turner will continue to produce and Matt Ryan should look better than he did during his sophomore campaign. The Falcons are a lock for the playoffs this year. The NFC Wild Card is not as competitive as the AFC Wild Card.

The Vikings are a one and done playoff team. I never like to question Brett Favre’s stamina, but it doesn’t look like he is going to make it through the whole year. With no Brett Favre, and injuries hitting the Vikings hard this year, they could miss the playoffs entirely. The Giants also have a great shot at this Wild Card spot.

Super bowl-Colts, Packers

What a great story line this will be. Aaron Rodgers vs Peyton Manning. The young stud vs the legend. The Packers are a complete team. They have the field general, the stout run defense, and Charles Woodson received the Defensive POY award last year. Ryan Grant and the receiving corps led by Greg Jennings make the Packers one of the most feared teams in the NFL. The Colts have Peyton Manning. He is their coach on the field, the leader of their team, and at this point in his career, far and away the best player in the NFL. I expect the Colts to show up in the regular season as they did last year. Thirteen or so wins will get them home field advantage and if they can get past the Ravens in the AFC, a Super bowl is inevitable.

Superbowl Winner-Colts

Peyton Manning couldn’t find a way to win the Super bowl last year. I thought last year the Colts were the best team in the NFL, but it seems as though the Saints were destined to win it. I can’t see the Colts losing two championships in a row. Manning has the ability to put the entire team on his back and come away with a win, even when it seems impossible. As long as the Colts can hold up defensively, or at least contain the Packers assault, they should obtain the victory.

League Awards

Offensive R.O.Y.-Ryan Matthews

Norv Turner has predicted Matthews will get 250 carries and 40 catches. C.J. Spiller isn’t going to do that, although is special teams contributions may make him a close second in this race. Sam Bradford is on far too bad of a team to compete for this award. If Matthews is a top ten rusher this year, he walks away with the award handedly.

Defensive R.O.Y. - Eric Berry

Eric Berry could easily be the most talented player in this year’s draft. His competition is Ndamukung Suh, but Suh plays defensive tackle. In college he was a Heisman finalist as a defensive lineman, but this is the NFL. I see Eric Berry shining as Jairus Byrd did last year.

Offensive P.O.Y. – Ray Rice

Ray Rice is going to have a monster year. Last year, teams knew he was getting the ball and couldn’t stop him. An improved passing game should help his numbers. Aside from being a dominant running back, he is also an extremely talented pass catcher. The complete back on a smash mouth Ravens team is my candidate for Offensive POY. Chris Johnson is going to have a great year, but I don’t see him putting up 2500+ all purpose yards again.

Defensive P.O.Y. – Patrick Willis

Patrick Willis is the heart and soul of the 49ers defense. He has been named to the Pro Bowl in all of his first three seasons, the first to do so on the 49ers since Ronnie Lott. If Willis can lead the 49ers defense to a top 5 ranking in the NFL and a division title, he cannot be overlooked for Defensive POY. With Aubrayo Franklin coming back, he is the favorite to lead the league in tackles, as he has done twice already. Willis is already one of the best linebackers in the game. It doesn’t appear he is slowing down at all, and as his team improves, people will start to take notice.

MVP-Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is the best player on one of the best teams in the NFL. We have all seen what happens to the Colts when Curtis Painter enters the game. The Colts go from being an elite contender to laughing stock. Manning is the whole team more so than any other player in the NFL. An MVP year is around the corner.

Coach of the Year- Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh has reestablished the identity of the Ravens. The Ravens are playing hardnosed old school football, just the way they like it. I see the Ravens winning eleven games this year, and Harbaugh should get the nod for Coach of the Year. Some would say Rex Ryan is going to be the favorite for this award, but I see the Jets underachieving in comparison to the expectations that their head coach has set for them.

Most Improved Team-Redskins

The Washington Redskins did everything they could to improve immediately. They brought in a superstar quarterback who is familiar with the division. They brought in a coach who has won championships. They switched their defensive scheme to better suit their defense. This will add around five victories for a team that went 4-12 in the regular season last year. They will probably miss the playoffs this year, but the Redskins will make the greatest strides in the NFL this year by adding winners at key positions in the organization. Even if Albert Haynesworth continues his soap opera, the Redskins are sure to improve.

Week 1 Picks

All right everyone, the season has finally come after a long and miserable off-season. I will be doing a game by game weekly pick\'em throughout the season.

Five Locks

Chargers vs Chiefs Pick: Chargers

Going into Arrowhead on Monday night and coming out with a victory is never easy, even against a Chiefs team that is coming off a 4-12 season. I see San Diego establishing the ground game early with a transitioning offense. Look for Malcom Flloyd to have a big game in the absence of Vincent Jackson.

Saints vs Vikings Pick: Saints

I can already hear people talking about Favre coming back to avenge the Vikings against the Saints who stole away their Superbowl. The problem is that Brett Favre\'s weapons are dropping like flies. With Sydney Rice coming off hip surgery, Brett Favre coming off ankle surgery, and Percy Harvin\'s migraines, the Vikings are sure to struggle early against the defending champs.

49ers vs Seahawks Pick: 49ers

The 49ers got embarrassed against a struggling Seahawk team in a must win game last year that ruined their shot at a winning season. The addition of line coach Mike Solari and two offensive lineman being drafted in the first round should sure up the line problems that costed the 49ers dearly last year. Now with a healthy left tackle in Joe Staley and Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis in the starting lineup, Pete Carroll\'s debut is sure to be a disappointing one.

Panthers vs Giants Pick: Giants

Several receivers have emerged on the Giants and turned it into one of the most solid receiving corps in the NFL. Even though the days of the three headed monster running trio may be over, Eli Manning is going to benefit from a whole year under his belt with his young, developing receivers. Look for rookie Michael Johnson to have a nice season this year as the Giants try to recapture some of the fear their defensive line instilled in opponents during their Superbowl run.

Browns vs Buccaneers Pick Bucs

It is almost shameful to say the Bucs are a "lock", but the Browns are simply put, that bad. Jake Delhomme is making his Cleveland debut with a shortage of people to get the ball to. Josh Cribbs is far and away the most talented player on the Brown\'s roster, but his greatest attribute is his versatility as a Wildcat back and special teams superstar. Josh Freeman should lead the Bucs to a home victory in their opener.

Potential Upsets

Falcons vs Steelers Pick: Atlanta

Dennis Dixon is starting against an unforgiving Atlanta defense. Even though Dixon showed promise last year when he was forced into the lineup, the Falcons will take advantage of a young third string quarterback by hitting him with blitz packages. Rashard Mendenhall and Dennis Dixon\'s athleticism are not going to be enough to stop the Falcons. Expect Atlanta to load up the box to shut down the run, forcing Dixon to throw.

Raiders vs Titans Pick: Raiders

This isn\'t the Raider team we have become used to. Jason Campbell has given the Raiders something they have lacked since Rich Gannon was at the wheel. Leadership. Chris Johnson will undoubtedly have an outstanding performance, but the Titans are going to be caught off guard by an Oakland team that is not going to be afraid to air it out. I give the edge to the Raider receivers over the Titans defensive backs, led by Cortland Finnegan who has struggled as of late. Look for Jason Campbell to find Zach Miller early and often.

Bills vs Dolphins Pick: Bills

This might be my "reach" out of all of these picks, but the Bills are excited about the addition of C.J. Spiller and the Dolphins may get away from their identity of a wildcat offense due to the addition of Brandon Marshall. Although the offense is sure to benefit from the addition of an elite reciever, the Dolphins will undoubtedly undergo some opening day woes as they transition into a more traditional offense. The wildcat isn\'t going to be abandoned completely, but Marshall is too big of a talent to not gameplan to put the ball in his hands.

Slight Edges

Ravens vs Jets Pick: Ravens

America has fallen in love with Rex Ryan and the Jets. The HBO series Hard Knocks has given insight to the organization and created a storm of subplots for the entire Jet\'s season. Revis Island is making an encore appearance after a stressful holdout, and their rush defense is improved with the addition of Antonio Cromartie. All that being said, the Ravens have added Anquan Bolden and Ray Rice is poised for an MVP type season. Michael Oher has returned to the blind side after playing right tackle during his rookie campaign. The Raven defense, led by Ray Lewis, is just as ferocious as ever, and I see them shutting down the running game that ranked number one last year. I give the slight edge to Joe Flacco and the Ravens because I see Mark Sanchez struggling against the Raven \'D\'.

Broncos vs Jaguars Pick: Broncos

I went back and forth on this one several times. The Broncos got off to a great start last season and then spiraled out of control, missing the playoffs entirely. The Broncos have lost some key weapons since Josh McDaniels stepped in as head coach. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall being driven out of Denver are still affecting the offense. The Jaguars are one of the most one dimensional in the entire NFL. Maurice-Jones Drew is an elite NFL running back, and he is the only real force on the entire Jaguar roster. Expectations are low in Jacksonville and there are serious holes all over their entire roster. To make things worse, they selected defensive tackle Tyson Alualu in the first round of this year\'s draft, which was extremely unpopular among the Jaguar fans. I give the Broncos the slight edge despite their lack of identity and instability.

Packers vs Eagles Pick: Packers

The Eagles believe Kevin Kolb is going to step into Donovan Mcnabbs shoes and succeed. They may be alone. The Eagles went to multiple NFC championship games and a Superbowl under McNabb, something that Kolb may not be ready to do right away. The Eagles lost Brian Westbrook and Donovan Mcnabb in the same offseason. Both have been staples of the offense since their arrival. We will see how Lesean Mccoy and Kevin Kolb fair, but their is going to be a learning curve now that they have been given the starting roles. I give the slight edge to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

Colts vs Texans Pick: Colts

Peyton Manning made the most out of having a new group of receivers. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have contributed nicely, and one more year in the most complicated offense in the NFL is going to elevate their game even more. The Colts have a bad taste in their mouth from losing the Superbowl. As one of the best teams in the NFL, they will want to establish their dominance of the AFC South against an up and coming Texan team. The Texans are a wild-card playoff team, but they are not quite the caliber team the Colts are. Andre Johnson just got a monster deal, but Brian Cushing has been suspended for the first four games of the season and the Texans would need to play nearly flawless football to beat a Colts team that went undefeated last year during the regular season while Manning was under center.

Lions vs Bears Pick: Bears

Jay Cutler struggled in his first year as a Bear. His redzone performance was terrible and he did not look the part at any point during the season last year. Bear\'s fans may be wondering why the Bears made such a big push for Cutler. I see Cutler making great strides in the offense next year. The addition of Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher has made the Chicago defense a feared unit once again. The Lions made improvements, including adding a security blanket for former number one overall pick Matthew Stafford. Ndamakung Suh is also sure to be a Pro-Bowl caliber player down the road, but the Lions are still in ruins and will not have enough to oust the Bears.

Bengals vs Patriots Pick: Patriots

The Patriots have been written off by many this year, but they have never really cared much about public opinion. Wes Welker has made a remarkable recovery from his surgically repaired knee. Tom Brady will love having his most targeted receiver back in the lineup. The Bengals surprised everyone last year by sweeping their division. Chad OchoCinco is back on the football field after his recent reality show experience, Cedric Benson revived his career after many had written him off in Chicago, and the team brought in T.O. With the Bengal defense healthy and the offense playing with their new offensive toys, this one should be close, but I give it to the Pats.

Rams vs Cardinals Pick: Cardinals

If the Cardinals weren\'t playing the Rams I would probably give the virtual check mark to the opposition. As it stands, however, they are playing the Rams. Arizona is in disarray. Matt Leinart\'s departure and the addition of Derek Anderson are huge changes. Making the changes a week before the regular season starts isn\'t helping their cause. To make things worse Anquan Boldin joined the Ravens. Steven Jackson is the Rams\' lone Pro Bowl player. He also is coming off of back surgery this season, which probably speaks to the workhorse role he has held for his entire career. Sam Bradford has looked good in preseason, but anyone would struggle on one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Dallas vs Washington Pick: Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys have a serious shot at making a run in the NFC this year. They have the best stable of running backs in the NFL with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice leading the way. Demarcus Ware leads a solid Cowboy defense and Tony Romo is starting to look the part. Washington is seeing the negative aspects, once again, of signing a high profile free agent like Albert Haynesworth. His conditioning test was one of the most talked about stories of the entire off-season. Another was the shocking trade that landed Donovan McNabb in a Redskins uniform. The Redskins are my pick for most improved team, but Dallas is going to be too much too early. Shanahan and the Redskins may split the series with the Cowboys this season in the most heated rivalry in football, but I give the edge to the Cowboys.

Patriots Place Leigh Bodden on IR

Well if you haven\'t heard the Patriots have placed their star corner Leigh Bodden on Injury Reserve. Now this will affect the Patriots chances of getting to the Super Bowl. Because you know what they say \"Defense wins championships.\" and i do not disagree with that statement one bit. I don\'t disagree with that statement because look at our offense last year. We had Brady,Moss,Welker (for most of the season),Laurence Maroney,Ben Watson,etc. But look at our defense now. Our offense was stacked but our defense without a doubt needed some upgrading. And until we get a couple of stars on defense we will not win a Super Bowl. Even though we didn\'t win in \'07 we still had Asante Samuel, Junior Seau, Teddy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork (which we still have), and many more. I hope we will get a stud in the next draft or make a key trade soon or our teams going no where.