Falling out of his chair was Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter as his son RJ hit the go-ahead three with just over 2 seconds left. Hunter was nursing a torn achilles, hence the roller chair on the sidelines. Taurean Prince was the only Baylor player in double digits, scoring 18. The Pounce of Georgia State won though, 57-56.
If you had Georgia State winning, I want photographic proof.
R.J. finished with 16 points in the game, leading all Georgia State scorers. Baylor led by 12 (56-44) with 2:55 left in the game. It was at that point, I thought Seth Davis could pull out his red marker…
At least Baylor is playing like a 3 seed, so far…
#MarchMadness
As Georgia State was within 2 with 19 seconds left in the game.
Of course Baylor wasn’t alone…
It seemed like Iowa State was America’s Team…The 3 seed that everyone was choosing to go as far as the Final Four…
Uh oh.
Iowa State jumped out to a 12-4 with 14:22 left in the first half, and then lost lead with 7 minutes later. The University of Alabama-Birmingham led by 3 at halftime, 31-28. Neither team led by more than 3 until Georges Niang put the Cyclones up by 4 on a pair of free throws with 3:13 left in the game.
Robert Brown, who led all scorers with 21, put UAB ahead with a 3 pointer and 50 seconds left. Iowa State couldn’t regain the lead as UAB won 60-59. And then you heard a collective…
…across the country.
Notre Dame was able to narrowly escape a similar fate as the other two #3 seeds as they edged out Northeastern 69-65. Fellow #3 seed Oklahoma better watch out tomorrow as they take on Albany, who is already feeling the “Madness” after winning their conference tournament on a game winning 3…the only one they made ALL GAME.
For more March Madness reaction, follow me on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03
As Free Agency kicked off a week ago, the Chicago Bears made it clear that Jay Cutler will be on their roster in 2015. Pro Bowl guard and 3rd year veteran Kyle Long went as far as declaring his allegiance to his quarterback…
My allegiance is to the one true king of the north – he's got my back I've got his %6 pic.twitter.com/TI4Tcn1zZn
And so, Cutler was dubbed the #OneTrueKingOfTheNorth. It’s no secret that I am a huge geek…or obsessed with Thrones. So thanks to Long’s Tweet, I will take it a step further and align the 2015 Bears with characters from Game of Thrones(That’ll be stuck in your head forever). WARNING: MILD SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T CAUGHT UP ON THE SHOW. CONTINUE IF YOU DARE.
Jay Cutler / Stannis Baratheon
Long has set the tone with his allegiance and it makes all the sense in the world (of Westeros). Cutler had knocked on the gates of a Super Bowl birth before he was knocked out with a torn MCL against the “Lannisters” of the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers. Sound familiar? Stannis Baratheon was dealt a similar hand at the Battle of Blackwater, blown away by a similar “Green” explosion.
Neither Cutler nor Stannis are very likable to the public. Both can be viewed as underestimated to their opponents, but command loyalty from those closest to them. And you best believe Cutler has slayed some Wildlings in his day… (Picture this being the Vikings)
Kyle Long / Jon Snow
Most Thrones geeks probably assumed I would have gone with Davos Seaworth, Stannis Baratheon’s righthand man, but I felt Long deserved a much more badass comparison…and there are some strong correlations. Long comes from a family rich in football prowess. While not a bastard, he is the son of a well respected warrior of the game (like Ned Stark). Kyle’s brother, Chris, built a reputation as one of the league’s elite defensive players before he came onto the scene. One hopes Chris doesn’t attend any shady arranged weddings in the near future. And Long has stepped up to lead his position group to protect his quarterback, much like the Night’s Watch at the wall.
Alshon Jeffery / Daenerys Targaryan
Now hear me out, Alshon… Like Daenerys, Jeffery has proven naysayers wrong over the course of his young professional career. He was underrated in the draft, similar to when Daenerys acquired her Unsullied army from “The Masters” of Astapor. Jeffery’s skills and work ethic that helped him ascend to Pro Bowl status are like the Khaleesi’s dragons doing this to everyone in her path…
Jeffery has an opportunity to prove he is a #1 wide receiver like Daenerys, who is gunning for the throne of the seven kingdoms.
Matt Forte / Jamie Lannister
Incest aside, Matt Forte and Jamie Lannister can be considered comparable for their accomplishments. Forte has always been a workhouse and a consistent weapon for the Bears offense and for multiple head coaches while Jamie served as captain of the Kingsguard under multiple kings. Both are getting up in age and have dealt with their share of injuries (Jamie losing his hand is a lot more severe than anything Forte has dealt with), but have plenty to offer still. Oh, and Bears…
Martellus Bennett / Tyrion Lannister
Like Tyrion is to all of Game of Thrones, Martellus Bennett is a unique individual on the Bears roster. Both have a great sense of humor. Neither care what others think of them. And when the moment counts most, they can get the job done in the clutch. Bennett will come up with the big play against a division rival…
…and Tyrion will rally his troops against impending doom.
Eddie Royal / Barristan Selmy
Neither Eddie Royal or Barristan Selmy are flashy names, but they are helpful pieces to their respective teams and both are quality free agent signings. I mentioned how Jeffery is like Daenerys already…Royal’s skill set can potentially make Jeffery better by forcing team’s to respect the slot more. That pulls coverage away from Jeffery that would allow him to shine, just like Barristan providing council to Daenerys. Proven veterans who both could use a bounce back season. Jermon Bushrod is Pro Bowl left tackle who had difficulties blocking in year 2 of his Bears tenure. Sir Jorah was recently cast away by Daenerys for losing her trust. Both were meant to play big parts in achieving greatness, whether it be a Super Bowl or control of the Iron Throne, and both have the ability to make a comeback.
Jared Allen / The Hound
Outside of similar appearances, both Jared Allen and The Hound are defectors of their longstanding teams. Allen (former Viking) and Sandor Clegane (formerly employed by the Lannisters) are also looking to return to form and regain the feared reputation they both once had.
Pernell McPhee / The Mountain
In his Bears introductory press conference, Pernell McPhee was asked to describe himself.
“I’m violent.” And that was it.
Also violent and a man of few words, meet Gregor Clegane…
Ego Ferguson / Hodor
Transitioning to a 3-4 defense, the Bears need to identify a nose tackle to eat space up the middle. Hodor would be an AWESOME 0-technique…and Ego Ferguson also seems to fit the bill as well. I’d also like to hear Ferguson do an entire interview just saying “Ego.”
Willie Young / Daario Naharis
In his first year with the Bears, Willie Young was a quarterback assassin. Daario is not very different, playing deadly mercenary for Team Targaryen. Hoping Young can return fully healed, and in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 system, let’s hope to see more of this…
Followed by this…
Antrel Rolle / Davos Seaworth
Antrel Rolle is another new Bears addition but there are two things he brings to the defensive side of the ball: Loyalty and Leadership. It’s been very cool to hear Rolle speak on his experience in New York and it sounds a lot like what Davos brings to Stannis Baratheon’s camp. Loyal to a fault, not afraid to speak his mind, a warrior, and adaptable.
Kyle Fuller / Bran Stark
Unlike Bran Stark, Kyle Fuller still has the use of legs. But LIKE Bran, Fuller has the potential for big things. After an excellent first month in the league, Fuller had a tough rest of the season. He was forced into a starting cornerback role after Charles Tillman was ruled out for the season and had a quick “Welcome to the League” experience against the league’s best wide receivers. Fuller has the skills and makeup to improve though, and you can’t help but get excited for what’s next…like Bran Stark.
Jon Bostic / Arya Stark
Sure, on the outside the two are nothing alike…but think about it. Jon Bostic has been out of position for most of career, mis-casted as a middle linebacker and a strongside linebacker when he was best suited for weakside linebacker. Arya Stark was raised to be proper and in a world of aristocrats while she is truly meant to handle a sword. Both play with a chip on their shoulder and strike like they have some serious anger issues. Don’t be surprised if both have breakout seasons in new positions coming up.
Have some more Football & Thrones comparisons on your mind? Or maybe you just want to geek out some more about sports and TV? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03
Did you have high expectations for the 2014-15 Fighting Illini?
John Groce did. He had to. He’s the coach.
The team and fan base probably did. And why not? What’s the point of playing or being a fan without some belief?
I did not. While the team didn’t have much turnover from 2013-14 (just graduating Joseph Bertrand and Jon Ekey), they didn’t add much either to a squad that only reached the 2nd round of the NIT. Yes, the roster gained a year of experience, and that showed in Big Ten breakout Malcolm Hill. However it did not show in leading scorer Rayvonte Rice, who found himself suspended from the team following extended time out with a broken left hand.
Would the 2014-15 Illini won more games with Rice on the floor? Probably. Would a handful of extra wins put them in the NCAA tourney? In this year’s Big Ten…certainly. It wasn’t about THIS year for the Illini, though. As difficult as it is for anyone with vested interest in Illini basketball to hear it, success was a luxury rather than a necessity. That is because the incoming class will make or break the Groce era.
Ranked 15th by ESPN, 10th by 247 (CBS), and 16th by Rivals (Yahoo! Sports), the 2015 class will be Illinois’ best recruiting class in years. Having covered 3 of the 4 commits in person, I can tell you the Illini will add scoring and a lot of it. Local Chicago area stars DJ Williams (ranked 63rd in the nation on Rivals) 6’7 from Simeon High School and Aaron Jordan (ranked 83rd) are long and athletic players with range and a knack for attacking the paint. Jordan is more of a jump shooter, passive compared to Williams, but knows how to get to the free throw line when it’s needed. Williams, amazingly, has been able to shine on a Simeon squad full of D1 talent and that bodes well when it comes to meshing with his new Illini teammates.
Jalen Coleman, a 6’3 shooting guard from La Porte, IN (Indianapolis area), is the real catch and not based on his rankings alone. Playing against some of the country’s best in AAU, Coleman proved to be a prolific scorer. He made half of his 92 three-point attempts leading up to the NIKE EYBL Peach Jam Championship tournament in Augusta, South Carolina last summer. He can run the floor when asked to, but has the ability to take over a game by himself…a huge difference when it comes to college basketball.
The Illini will also be adding Darius Paul, who technically was already a member of the team but was suspended for 2014 because of a failed drug test and underage drinking. He is the younger brother of former Illinois star Brandon Paul, a 6’8 power forward from Gurnee, IL, and played this season at Lamar State junior college in Texas. Illinois will need all the size they can get after Nnanna Egwu graduates this year and Paul has the opportunity to contribute in a big way with his 2 years of eligibility.
After missing the year due to injury, senior Tracy Abrams will have another year of eligibility. Abrams tore his ACL last September, but spent the season providing much needed leadership for the team this season, leadership that will hopefully translate to hardwood next Fall. Hill will be depended on to replace the scoring after Rice graduates, much like he did during the injury and suspension.
The big knock on Groce and the Illinois program in recent years has been their inability to keep highly touted recruits in-state. Duke’s Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young HS, Chicago) and Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky (Benet Academy, Lisle, IL) were this year’s NCAA All-American headliners. The nation’s top point guard recruit Jalen Brunson (Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL) chose Villanova. Catholic League star Charles Matthews (St. Rita, Chicago) selected Kentucky a year ago. And Illinois Top-10 players like Glynn Watson (St. Joseph), Ed Morrow (Simeon) and Brandon Hutton (De La Salle) all chose other Big Ten schools to take their talents to.
If Illinois basketball proves they can win with the in-state talent they committed already, the program will become more attractive to recruits in the Chicagoland area. If they win big games on national television, step up in the Big Ten conference, play well in the NCAA tournament, and put players in the NBA, more talent will stay in-state. That’s a lot of “ifs”, but it is plausible. And because it is plausible, that means no excuses in the 2015-16 season…year 4 of the Groce era.
Ryan Pace has made his first personnel moves to kick off his tenure as Chicago Bears GM.
It began with the trade of Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets for a 5th round pick.
In just 3 seasons with the Bears, Marshall ranked 11th for receiving yards (3,524) in Bears history, tied for 5th in touchdowns (31) and 8th in receptions (279). However, following an injury plagued 2014 season and accumulating off-field issues, Pace and new head coach felt it best to part ways with the former pro bowl receiver. The reception of this move has been polarizing among the team’s fan base, but the bottom line is that the Bears received compensation for an almost 31 year old wide receiver (Birthday – March 23rd) coming off multiple injuries and declining athleticism that they planned on releasing anyway. Marshall has also openly voiced how football is more of a platform than a passion, so at least he won’t have to fly cross country to record his weekly Showtime appearance. 5th round picks are no slouches either…unless you consider Carl Nicks, Richard Sherman, or Kam Chancellor as such.
The second big move came today as the Baltimore Sun reported that the Bears and OLB/DE Pernell McPhee have agreed to a 5-year/$40 million deal with $16 million guaranteed…also a 5th round pick.
McPhee isn’t as sexy a name as Julius Peppers was when Lovie Smith rang his doorbell at midnight of the 2010 Free Agency start. McPhee’s skill set and versatility are VERY sexy though. Just 26 years old, McPhee is a pure pass rusher with experience as a defensive end and outside linebacker in Baltimore’s 3-4 system. He has also played end in a 40 front. McPhee has dealt with injuries to both his knees, but played in every game during the past 2 seasons. He recorded 7.5 sacks in 2014 while spelling for pro bowler Terrell Suggs, who was nursing an achilles injury.
The McPhee signing does 3 things:
1. It provides flexibility in the draft. The Bears needed an edge rusher and now they have one. A proven one. They put themselves in a position where they don’t have to draft a “need” but instead the best available player with 7th overall pick. That could be Alabama WR Amari Cooper. Bears could use another top-end pass catching talent. It could be Clemson’sDE/OLB Vic Beasley. You can’t have enough weapons to go after the quarterback on the field.
2. It gives new Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio options in his unpredictable defense. McPhee has played every technique on the defensive line. He has stood up to rush the edge. He’ll even rush from the middle on 3rd down from a “chaos” look that you see with multiple 3-4 schemes. And chaos is good…That also opens things up for Fangio to assign positions to unknowns currently on the roster like Willie Young, Jared Allen, and Lamarr Houston.
3. It sets the tone for the type of players the Bears are looking for. The defense is in dyer need of a makeover. Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman, both Chicago Bears all-timers, are on the outs due to age and recent injury history. The average age for defensive starters was 29 while more than half were 30+ years old. The 26 year old McPhee adds youth, but also has a recent Super Bowl ring as part of his resume from 2012. There are other free agents with winning experience who would also fit the needs of the Bears roster.
What’s Next?
The new NFL year and free agency officially begins today at 3:00 PM CT. Teams had already struck deals with high target players over the weekend.
DT Ndamukong Suh to Miami (6 years $114 million, $60 million guaranteed)
S Devin McCourty stays with New England (5 years $47.5 million, $28.5 million guaranteed)
WR Randall Cobb stays with Green Bay (4 years $40 million, $17 million guaranteed)
WR Jeremy Maclin to Kansas City (Total and years aren’t confirmed, suspected $11 million per year)
C Rodney Hudson to Oakland (5 years $44.5 million, guaranteed money hasn’t been confirmed)
Note: Guaranteed money is key with NFL contracts. Rarely does anyone make their entire contract total.
So let’s look at the Bears’ needs and the targets to address them.
Defensive Line
While McPhee can be plugged in as a 5 technique DE, and one would assume Lamarr Houston would fit at the other side, the Bears still need a space eater in the middle to play nose tackle.
Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton – Former Broncos NT under Fox, stellar run defender. Interest from Raiders, Colts, Washington, and the Bears
Dan Williams – Cardinals DT who didn’t get enough playing time. Ranked 8th vs the run by Pro Football Focus. Interest from Giants, Lions, and Washington
Corey Peters – Falcons DT and 5 year veteran. Rebounded well after achilles injury.
Kenrick Ellis – Jets NT. Great 2 down run stopper.
Vince Wilfork – Patriots NT, 5-time pro bowler and proven winner with plenty and knowledge to share. Devin McCourty is trying hard to get him back.
Inside Linebackers
In Fangio’s 3-4 scheme, there are two ILBs…one being the “Mike” (middle) linebacker and the other being the “Jack” backer who lines up weak side of the line. Opponents’ run games will be funneled inside for the most part and while the NT eats up space and OL, the ILBs will be responsible for finishing the plays tackling.
Bruce Carter – Cowboys LB who filled carried a lot of weight with Sean Lee out. Aggressive and uber-athletic. Would be a huge steal away from the Packers who are targeting him.
Brandon Spikes – Former Bills defensive captain yet was treated like a 2 down defender under Jim Schwartz. While he may be on back end of career, provides the violent thump a Fangio LB needs.
Mason Foster – Buccaneers LB who doesn’t fit in Lovie’s Cover 2, but is better built to take on anything funneled to the middle. Bears already linked to Foster.
Nate Irving – Broncos LB that Fox is obviously familiar with but coming off a knee injury. Still in high demand and being pursued by Cardinals. Powerful and prototype for 3-4 ILB.
Cornerbacks
While the Bears do have Kyle Fuller and former pro bowler Tim Jennings, they weren’t all that great with them after the first month. Health reasons have proven you can’t have too many, and Jennings may be better suited for the nickel as he gets older.
Davon House – Packers CB expected not to return, well versed in Fangio’s system as the he was DC for Dom Capers previously. Excelled as slot defensive back last season.
Perrish Cox – 49ers CB who has off-field issues but obviously experienced with Fangio. Great instincts in coverage and reading receivers hips. Doesn’t allow much spacing.
Darrelle Revis – Obviously a big fish to catch in a small pond, but come on…Revis Island.
Safeties
A glaring need for years with the Bears defense, the Bears already missed out on my first choice, Devin McCourty. Don’t necessarily need a playmaker but someone who is at least dependable.
Rahim Moore – Another former Fox defender who was very solid in 2014. Not as flashy as Earl Thomas but fits the “dependable” mold that would make the Bears comfortable.
Antrel Rolle – Giants safety that Bears are linked to. Very vocal about being reunited with University of Miami teammates Andre Johnson and Wilfork. Wouldn’t necessarily rule that out for Bears.
Da’Norris Searcy – Bills safety with run-stop and coverage skills. Young and wasn’t really an every down player, but certainly looked the part.
Mike Adams – Colts safety who does a solid job. Older player but could fit for a year or two and get it done.
Wide Receiver
Obviously there’s an opening for another split out receiver after the Marshall trade. As mentioned earlier, drafting one is a likely possibility but why not add someone with experience. The preference for the Bears would be a speedster, somebody who can take the top off a defense. They didn’t have that guy last season and it made the Jay Cutler led offense predictable. Marshall and Alshon Jeffery weren’t burning past anybody for a much needed deep threat. But anyone with dependable hands would also do…before the draft.
Torrey Smith – Ravens receiver who has proven to be a risk/reward option for the past few years. Has dropping issues but can certainly stretch the field though and compliment Jeffery well.
Andre Johnson – Very similar career as Marshall production-wise, without the baggage. Doesn’t fit the burner mold but super dependable route runner. I’d blame his lack of touchdowns on his quarterbacks more than him.
Michael Crabtree – Former Heisman candidate that has shown promise but hasn’t met the ridiculous standards we all set for him. Change in scenery and pairing with Jeffery and Martellus Bennett could help him breakout.
Running Backs
The Bears do have Matt Forte, but it wouldn’t be outrageous to start looking beyond the pro bowl “everything” back. Forte will be in the last year of his deal and at the very least will need a backup this season. Bears look to be very run-heavy this coming season, so a 2-back system would be beneficial to not go overkill with Forte touches.
Ryan Matthews – Chargers RB that has had difficulty staying on the field, but solid power runner when given opportunities. Not sure how much Matthews will garner on the market, but would make a great compliment to Forte and can make it an audition to take over after his contract is up.
CJ Spiller – Very similar situation to Matthews in terms of injury history and needing an audition, but a much better pass catcher and versatile offensive weapon. Spiller is also no stranger to the 2 back system.
Knowshon Moreno – Another back with injury history that could also be affordable because of that. Made his money with Dolphins after playing in Adam Gase’s RB-by-committe system and obviously familiar with Fox.
Of course there are more needs and other options the Bears could go with. Feel free to recommend your suggestions and follow along the Free Agency action with me on Twitter.
Awards season has flown by, hasn’t it? The Golden Globes and their weirdness feel like yesterday…
Wait, that was like a month ago? Wow. It has also felt like a quiet season too, in terms of big upsets and such…hold on a sec…
SIT DOWN, KANYE!
Back to the show…
Besides the actual awards being announced, I can’t wait to see what Neil Patrick Harris has up his sleeve. There are few hosts who are as much of a showman as NPH. Multiple Tony Award shows, the Emmys, and now the Oscars…? He’s just a Golden Globes away from his own Hosting EGOT. NPH be criticized and scrutinized like everybody ever to host it, but I expect nothing short of something Legen…wait for it…
If you need a reference of what to anticipate, check out one of my favorite award show opens of his.
The Picks…
Last year everything felt predictable. The Dallas Buyers Club boys, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, took Best Lead and Supporting honors EVERYWHERE. Cate Blanchett did the same, like most Woody Allen characters do. Then Lupita Nyong’o and 12 Years a Slave, while not necessarily consensus favorites, didn’t surprise anyone with their wins.
This year isn’t so easy, and that’s a good thing. 2014 (and early ’15) was an excellent year in film and made it fun going to the movie theater every week. Why the Academy went with just 8 nominees for Best Picture is beyond me, but every film in the running is very deserving…
So was Guardians of the Galaxy.
Anywho…
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch – Imitation Game
Michael Keaton – Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
My Pick: Eddie Redmayne
It’s a loaded category. Benedict Cumberbatch was flawless in Imitation Game. Controversy over the man he depicted aside, Bradley Cooper rocked the “Punisher” logo he wore HARD. Steve Carell made everyone’s skin crawl (although I was more interested in Channing Tatum’s performance). And Michael Keaton carried the suspense of a bomb you were anticipating to explode…without the timer.
Eddie Redmayne’s performance as Stephen Hawking though was too special to deny. While I would love to see the award go to either Keaton or Cumberbatch, it’s Redmayne’s to lose at this point. His transformation into Hawking has won at nearly everything and fun fact…
The SAG winner in this category has won 100% of the time in the last decade.
(I do have to mention that I felt David Oyelowo was horribly robbed of a nomination in this category. Every bit as deserving as Cumberbatch, Keaton, Carell, and Redmayne…You can figure out who I left out.)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon – Wild
My Pick: Julianne Moore
I know…Nothing too controversial here. Moore has won in nearly every awards show that matters. Cotilard won the New York Film Critics Circle award…and good for her. Moore is as every bit of the accolades for her role in Still Alice, and it’s amazing that this will likely be her first win in 5 tries. But if there was a sleeper pick to make here, I would take Felicity Jones. You couldn’t ask for a better compliment performance to Eddie Redmayne’s than Jones.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
My Pick: J.K. Simmons
I feel bad for Edward Norton. He put out arguably his best performance of a great career in Birdman, but J.K. Simmons was just. too. good…
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Laura Dern – Wild
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Emma Stone – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Meryl Streep – Into The Woods
My Pick: Emma Stone
Yeah, I can’t play the favorite on this one. Patricia Arquette has been cleaning up at award shows all season and I really don’t understand it. Yes, she was moving…but she wasn’t a showstopper like Emma Stone was.
Best Picture
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
My Pick: Birdman
I understand that this has turned into a 2 horse race between Boyhood and Birdman in terms of odds, but Birdman was clear and away the better film to me. I was more interested in how Boyhood was made than the actual product. Richard Linklater should, and probably will, win Best Director for presenting an entire childhood in 3 hours, but there wasn’t much of a story and the performances didn’t wow me more than the gimmick…
Birdman, on the other hand, is filled with performance after performance that grabs you by your collar, unpredictable, and has you at the end of your seat. Watching Boyhood, I just waited for Mason to finally grow up…but I loved the soundtrack.
That’s just me though…
Who are you picking to win tonight? Let me know and let’s talk about the show on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.
Did you grab a slice yet today? Why not? You didn’t know?
It’s National Pizza Day!
Now you may be asking, “who decided this?” IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO DECIDED THIS! IT’S PIZZA!
So let’s commemorate the occasion properly and take a look at moments in television and film that made us hungry enough to call for delivery.
Breaking Bad
Most fans can pinpoint it to Season 3 Episode 2, but how did that pepperoni pizza get up on that roof?
Walter?…Don’t you do it!…Dammit, Walter.
Home Alone
How many immature jerks, I mean kids, tried this themselves? I imagine it was a rough go for delivery guys nationwide during the 90s.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
We’ll forgive the Turtles for their choice of Dominos only because they live in a sewer. And because corporate sponsorship and all…
Wayne’s World
Speaking of corporate sponsorship…
Mad Men
Not really any physical pizza being involved, but clearly Peggy has what we all do on her mind…Hey! Get your head out of the gutter!
Back to the Future Part II
Not only did they try predicting the next time the Cubs would go to the World Series, but also the way we ate pizza. I’m okay with them being wrong about the latter.
The 2014 Academy Awards
While Ellen was breaking the internet with the world’s greatest selfie, she was also throwing the world’s greatest pizza party…C’mon. Brad Pitt was passing out plates.
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
“Who ordered the double cheese and sausage?” Probably the best pizza moment in cinematic history.
So…
Have another great pizza moment in mind? Comment here or Tweet @Mike_PiFF03. Now go get some pizza!
Patriots fans, Seahawks fans, and the rest of the world helped make Super Bowl 49 the highest rated television program in U.S. History. 114.5 million viewers watched the whole game and 118.5 million were tuned in for Katy Perry and her giant robot lion.
That thing was impressive and terrifying all at once.
In a blink of an eye though, football was over. The 2014-15 season was wrapped up with a championship game that represented it perfectly…INSANE. And one of the best Super Bowls in league history was made so by some of this past Fantasy season’s best.
If you’re like me, you already can’t wait to draft your next Fantasy team. So why not start looking ahead and beginning your draft board? Let’s take a look at the key contributors from last weekend’s game and others with Fantasy value.
Beginning with…
The New England Patriots
Tom Brady
In terms of Fantasy Football, Tom Brady had a bounce back year. While his yardage and record were consistent with last season, Brady threw more touchdowns (33) and less interceptions (9). He threw multiple touchdowns in 10 of his 16 starts in 2014, and at least one in every game other than Week 17 when he left early to rest for Jimmy Garoppolo. (But you shouldn’t be worried about Week 17, if you know what’s good for you.) After a difficult first 4 weeks, Brady tore it up by leading Fantasy owners to the playoffs with 24 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions over 8 weeks.
Where to draft him next season?
At the age of 37, Brady ranked 5th in touchdown passes, 5th in passer rating, and 10th in yardage. He slipped pretty far in drafts last season, but he should be available for you to grab in rounds 4-6 this year. Grab your key position players first and Brady will compliment them greatly.
Julian Edelman
If Tom Brady didn’t win the Super Bowl XLIX MVP, Julian Edelman could have. Was there a gutsier player in the game? Edelman made catch after catch, and was blown up doing so…
Edelman’s performance was a thing of football folklore, much like his career so far. The former Kent State quarterback has filled in nicely as Tom Brady’s favorite wide receiver target after the departure of Wes Welker. In the past two seasons, Edelman has caught 197 passes in 30 games played. PPR league players have to like the 6.5 catches a game, 2,028 yards receiving in that span, and Edelman’s return ability.
Where to draft him…
There are two concerns with Edelman. #1 is targets in the red zone. In between the 20’s, Edelman is a great possession option for Brady, and his catch totals are evident of that. In the end zone though, Brady likes to spread the wealth (or throw to Gronk). The 2nd concern is the wear and tear Edelman has compiled early in his career. The hit you see above wasn’t his first rodeo (over the middle with a hard hitting safety)…Edelman makes a solid WR2 option, target him in your 5th-7th rounds. He’d be a steal past that. Moves like this on top end defensive backs like the Seahawks have make you optimistic.
Rob Gronkowski
The AP “Comeback Player of The Year” was more than deserving of the honor. Like Tom Brady, Gronk’s production skyrocketed after Week 4. Correlation?…While Gronkowski had caught touchdowns in 3 of the first 4 games of the season, his usage increased from 6.5 targets per game to 9.5 (Weeks 5-16) and he finished with a Top 5 total of 12 touchdowns.
Where to draft him…
Gronkowski was a steal for me in two leagues, falling to the 4th round in both. No way he’ll be available there in your next draft. With the uncertainty of what’s next for Julius Thomas and the dip in Jimmy Graham’s production, Gronk becomes the #1 tight end on your draft board. I wouldn’t expect him to escape the 2nd round in anybody’s respectable draft.
Shane Vereen
Bill Belichick’s running backs should always come with a warning label: MAY CAUSE INCREASE IN BLOOD PRESSURE.I couldn’t help but appreciate Shane Vereen’s game during the Super Bowl though. He only had 4 rushes for 13 yards but he led the team in receptions with 11 for 64 yards on 12 targets. The rule with Patriots running backs is when they are trailing, Shane Vereen is their guy. He led all the RBs with 838 yards from scrimmage while Stevan Ridley, LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray and Brandon Bolden all combined for 1,175 yards.
Where to draft him…
You’ll likely see Vereen overrated on many draft boards and going way too early in mock drafts. Why? He only scored 5 touchdowns total last season, and that’s not production you want out of a depended RB. Draft Vereen late to have as a fill-in flex option. When the Patriots are leading, Tom Brady is throwing less and handing the ball off to anyone not named Vereen…Keep in mind that Vereen is a free agent this off-season. This advice may change depending if he signs somewhere other than New England.
The Others
Stevan Ridley – Late Round/FA pickup
LeGarrette Blount – FA Pickup
Brandon LaFell – Late Round
Danny Amendola – FA Pickup
Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson
Despite his final throw of the Super Bowl, Russell Wilson is a winner. Just 3 seasons in the NFL with a 36-12 record, one Super Bowl ring, and 2 trips are more than enough evidence of that. Fantasy wise the season total numbers weren’t eye-popping, but there were individual games that were.
Those were games you should have won if you had him. Something Wilson was missing, however, was a true #1 receiver to throw to…preferably a big body receiver who could win jump balls in the end zone. If the Seahawks are able to add one this offseason, “DangerRuss” would be more than deserving of the nickname.
Where to draft him…
Russell Wilson could have been found on the waiver wire for you last season, and rightfully so. The point production wasn’t altogether consistent enough for a dependable Fantasy starter but the floor with Wilson is that of a very good backup. If he gets a big receiver, as noted earlier, he becomes a mid round pick for you. Lowest he should go is in the 10th round. No way should Wilson go undrafted.
Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Lynch was the best Fantasy football player featured in Super Bowl 49. Say what you want about his relationship with the media (this should help change your mind), the man can ball. Lynch led the league in total touchdowns (rush/receiving) with 17, led in rush TDs (13), ranked 4th in rush yards (1,306), and was Top 5 in touches, yards from scrimmage, and rushing yards per game. He turns 29 in April this year and has considerable pay bump awaiting him which suggests he’s capable of producing like that again.
Where to draft him…
The verdict is still out on whether or not Lynch wants to play next season but if he does, you take him in the first round. DeMarco Murray and Le’Veon Bell rank ahead of him, but Lynch is first round material without a doubt.
Chris Matthews
Had the Seahawks won the game, we’d be using the “folklore” verbiage with Chris Matthews a lot more than we have with Edelman. Matthews was a former junior college and Kentucky player, played in the CFL, worked at Foot Locker at one point, recovered the onside kick that beat the Packers…Then he caught 4 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Where to draft him…
You don’t. Matthews is a cool story. A 6’5 receiver who can make plays, obviously, but hasn’t really done anything to warrant you rolling the dice on him in your Fantasy draft. He doesn’t have much of a Pro Football Reference page to reference to. The Seahawks offense will be one to watch after this past weekend though, Matthews included.
The Others
Doug Baldwin – FA
Jermaine Kearse – Late Rounds
Luke Wilson – FA…and because his name is Luke Wilson?
Got thoughts or questions? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.
Media Day, All-Time great commercial countdowns, the constant NFL Films replaying of Super Bowls past, food…
It’s the best.
Once #DeflateGate finally blows over (if it ever does), we’ll see the game itself broken down in every way possible and multiple prop bet odds fluctuating up until Idina Menzel starts belting out our National Anthem. We’ll get trash talking from coast-to-coast and perhaps a gentleman’s bet between Ed Murray and Martin Walsh, the mayors of Seattle and Boston.
I would like to heat up the trash talk between the two regions by widening the scope and digging deeper into more than football. By comparing Seattle and New England (Boston) in categories such as music, TV, movies, other sports, beer, etc, we’ll be able to formulate a prediction for the Sunday’s outcome that’s as logical as an elephant choosing the winner…or a tiger.
That was awesome.
Anywho…
Music
In Seattle…
As part of Dave Grohl’s “Sonic Highways” docu-series following the cool concept of the Foo Fighters’ cross country recording journey for their latest album, Grohl and HBO focused on the Seattle music scene. While the central theme was how bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, SoundgardenandAlice in Chains almost literally blew up your FM frequencies, helping to create the alternative genre, grunge wasn’t the only calling card for Seattle.
During the post-war era (1945-1975), Seattle produced three of the industry’s all-time great black musicians. Ray Charles recorded his first single and made his television and radio debuts in Seattle. Quincy Jones played as an instrumentalist in Bumps Blackwell’s band. And before he went to England to start recording to eventually gain worldwide fame, Jimi Hendrix was rocking the clubs in Seattle on a nightly basis…In Hip-Hop, most of you know that Macklemore is from Seattle, but did you know Sir Mix A Lot was too? Seattle has also been the hub for current indie music acts, including Sunny Day Real Estate, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, The Head and the Heart, Fleet Foxes and (one of my favorites) Band of Horses.
In Boston…
I wanted to preface this in the beginning, but we find in a lot of these categories to be “Old School vs. New School” with New England representing a lot of the former. Of course we have to start with the “Bad Boys from Boston”, Aerosmith. Also fondly referred to as “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”, they certainly score big points in this game. Add (the band) Boston, The Cars, and J. Geils Band to the list of bands yours dad (and I) really likes.
I found myself torn between the two, so I asked a couple of music experts and enthusiasts for their thoughts:
“Both great legacies. I couldn’t possibly pick one over the other, as four of my favorite bands of all time come from each city: Mission of Burma and Morphine (Boston/Cambridge) and Fastbacks and Mudhoney (Seattle). Also Tad makes up for the rise of Candlebox in Seattle, and the Cars make me want to forgive Boston for the existence of Extreme.”– Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune Music Critic
“Hard to not pick Boston just because I have so many musician friends there, but Seattle is formidable. I will call it a draw.” – Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs Television Broadcaster and musician.
See! Not that easy.
However, I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity and Seattle’s scene from the 90’s and recently is too good to deny. Plus, they don’t have a band like Extreme to worry about canceling out.
TV
Set in Seattle…
When we see Seattle depicted on television, what impressions do we get? Progressive, new age, rainy?
Twin Peaks, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, The Killing (aka The show that makes me genuinely afraid of Seattle.) And of course…
Frasier.
Set in Boston…
There’s a handful of the typical (but still good) “Boston” themed shows. Boston Legal, Boston Public, Boston Commons (yeah, I said it.)…Wahlburg is basically a synonym for “Boston” so Wahlburgers is included. Fringe, Leverage, and Rizzoli & Isles too. Ally McBeal is your “Grey’s” equivalent. And then there’s the real Boston heavyweight…
Cheers.
Who Gets The Edge?
At the end of the day, its Frasier vs. Cheers isn’t it? And there wouldn’t be a Frasier without Cheers. So Boston gets the win here.
Movies
In Seattle…
Yes Chick-Flick lovers, Sleepless in Seattle is a classic. But it’s not Seattle’s only claim to fame in the genre. 10 Things I Hate About You, Love Happens, An Officer and a Gentleman, the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film, and Say Anything…are all worthy of getting a spin this Valentine’s Day.
Some of my favorites include This Is Spinal Tap, War Games and 50/50. Add thrillers like Fear, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and The Ring. And of course we can’t forget Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Saving Silverman, and Harry and the Hendersons.
In Boston…
There’s a fun spectrum of films that come to mind when you think of films based in Boston.
Gritty action movies: The Equalizer, Boondock Saints, The Town…
Sports movies: Fever Pitch, Celtic Pride, and I’ll allow Field of Dreams.
Oscar nominated dramas: Good Will Hunting, Mystic River, The Fighter, and The Departed.
Who Has The Edge?
As much as I love 50/50 and War Games, Seattle can’t compete with the heavy hitters that were filmed in Boston. How do you like them apples?
Food
In Seattle…
Visuals are helpful. Warning: you may get hungry.
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In Boston…
Ditto.
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The Edge?
I don’t think you can go wrong getting seafood in either town, but my tastebuds lean toward Boston for the pizza and sweets.
Landmarks/Sights
In Seattle…
The Space Needle
Pike Place Fish Market
The Puget Sound
Safeco Field
…and the Freemont Troll. It’s under a bridge. And scary/adorable.
In Boston…
The Massachusetts State House
The Hatch Memorial Shell
The Freedom Trail
Fenway Park
…where everybody knows your name.
The Edge?
Close call, but how about that view in Seattle? Fenway Park will always have a place in my baseball heart but the Bridge Troll is kind of a deal breaker.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Starbucks vs. Facebook – Seattle: Both addicting and everywhere, but I don’t have to worry about baby pictures, candy crush invites or internet trolls at any of the 5 Starbucks in a 3 mile radius of my house.
Sports Other Than Football – Boston: Love Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez, but how many championships does the city have outside of the football stadium?
Beer – Boston: The Seattle craft beer scene is definitely a thing. Black Raven, Elysian, Georgetown and Naked City are all notable breweries…but the Boston Beer Co. is America’s original.
The Score:
Seattle – 3
New England – 5
Sorry, Star-Lord.
Let us know what you think and other ways your favorite city is better than the other by Tweeting @Mike_PiFF03.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will describe it best (again) on Sunday: The annual chance for movie actors and TV actors to get made fun of, get drunk, and probably touch each other. Hard to tell who is which anymore just by looking at the categories. Steve Carell nominated for Motion Picture Drama awards, Clive Owen and Viola Davis nominated for Television awards…The only wall left standing is the one defending the Seven Kingdoms in Game of Thrones. (I know.)
While the Hollywood Foreign Press Association wasn’t too far off in their Movie nominations, Television is still a head scratcher. I could rant for hours on how badly Mad Men, Homeland, Parks and Recreation, and Modern Family were snubbed, but that’s not why you called…
Like I said, the Golden Globes are fun. Award shows in general are fun and so is making picks. So without further ado…
00
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
– Julianne Moore, Still Alice
– Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
– Reese Witherspoon, Gone Girl
– Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
– Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Winner: Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore is being touted as the runaway favorite, and rightfully so. 0 for 6 at the Golden Globes, 0/4 at the Oscars, ‘Still Alice’ is her Steve Young moment..Felicity Jones will be my sleeper pick though. She’s incredibly charming and moving in ‘The Theory of Everything’.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
– Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
– Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
– Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
– David Oyelowo, Selma
– Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Winner: David Oyelowo
Unbelievably loaded category, yet it still feels like a 3-man race between Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, and David Oyelowo. I give Redmayne points for his transformation, but I give the award to Oyelowo for overall performance. Steve Carell and Jake Gyllenhaal get huge kudos as well for making my skin crawl.
Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy
– Julianne Moore, Maps of the Stars
– Amy Adams, Big Eyes
– Emily Blunt, Into The Woods
– Helen Mirren, The Hundred Foot Journey
– Quevenzhane Wallis, Annie
Winner: Emily Blunt
This category is very “meh” to me, but Emily Blunt stands out the most. Somehow she was able to appear natural in a musical…and that’s no easy task.
Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy
– Michael Keaton, Birdman
– Bill Murray, St. Vincent
– Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
– Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
– Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes
Winner: Michael Keaton
Bill Murray in ‘St. Vincent’ defines this category but Michael Keaton, well…I’ll just leave this here.
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
– Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
– Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
– Keira Knightly, The Imitation Game
– Emma Stone, Birdman
– Meryl Streep, Into The Woods
Winner: Emma Stone
Emma Stone. Emma Stone! EMMA STONE!…If I say her name 3 times she appears, right? The range she showed in ‘Birdman’ is exactly why I’ll be picking her throughout awards season.
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
– Robert Duvall, The Judge
– Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
– Edward Norton, Birdman
– Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
– J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Winner: J.K. Simmons
I truly believe ‘Birdman’ was Edward Norton’s greatest performance. Any other year he would be a lock, but J.K. Simmons IS ‘Whiplash’. He terrifies you like you’re in his college jazz ensemble.
Best Picture – Drama
– Boyhood
– Foxcatcher
– The Imitation Game
– Selma
– The Theory of Everything
Winner: Selma
This category is missing Birdman, but that’s okay. This was a great year in film and Selma was remarkably able to stand out. The acting by the entire cast was phenominal and the filming was was perfect to invoke its message.
Best Picture – Musical/Comedy
– Birdman
– The Grand Budapest Hotel
– Into The Woods
– Pride
– St. Vincent
Winner: Birdman
‘Birdman’ is the best film of the year. I’ll explain why come Oscars week. Sorry to the rest of the field. Good job, good effort.
Best TV Series – Drama
– The Affair
– Downton Abbey
– Game of Thrones
– The Good Wife
– House of Cards
Winner: House of Cards
I’ve been very vocal about how badly the Golden Globes messed up with their TV nominations. Homeland, Mad Men, and Sherlock not getting the respect they deserve baffles me. With that said, Netflix should be thanking them because ‘House of Cards’ is the best among those nominated.
Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama
– Claire Danes, Homeland
– Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
– Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
– Ruth Wilson, The Affair
– Robin Wright, House of Cards
Winner: Claire Danes
Claire Danes should win as consolation for the disrespect shown to Homeland. It wasn’t just a bounce back season for the show, but also for her character. Robin Wright is also very deserving.
Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama
– Clive Owen, The Knick
– Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
– Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
– James Spader, The Blacklist
– Dominic West, The Affair
Winner: Dominic West
Someone call Sherlock because someone stole Benedict Cumberbatch’s nomination here…Dominic West should win because he is the only reason to watch ‘The Affair’, but personally I’m pulling for Liev Schreiber.
Best TV Series – Musical/Comedy
– Girls
– Jane The Virgin
– Orange is the New Black
– Silicon Valley
– Transparent
Winner: Silicon Valley
OITNB gets some help moving to a comedy category that is missing ‘Modern Family’, but ‘Silicon Valley’ is the better show. But seriously, no Modern Family? Have they seen Modern Family?
Best Actress in a TV Series – Musical/Comedy
– Lena Dunham, Girls
– Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
– Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
– Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
– Taylor Schilling, OITNB
Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
I love Gina Rodriguez, but I learned to stop picking against JLD a long time ago.
Best Actor in a TV Series – Musical/Comedy
– Louis C.K., Louie
– Don Cheadle, House of Lies
– Ricky Gervais, Derek
– William H. Macy, Shameless
– Jeffery Tambor, Transparent
Winner: Ricky Gervais
Go on Netflix. Watch Derek. Then you’ll know.
For the rest of the categories I care about, my picks will be covered by 2 words…
The dust has settled. Champions have been crowned. Now we can hand off the hardware to the players that helped you win (or lose) your Fantasy Football season.
Weeks prior to the regular season’s finale, I nominated 4 players in each of the 5 different categories you’ll see below. I then let YOU, the readers, add a 5th nominee to be considered for each award. There weren’t any repeats, in terms of a player being nominated for multiple categories. I think that’s a testament to how crazy this season really us.
Then I put it to YOU via Facebook and Twitter to help choose the winners. I’ve included your picks, as well as mine.
While the leader of the Texans defense, JJ Watt, got most of the publicity (as he rightfully deserved), Arian Foster was back to being the player who you wanted with one of your league’s coveted top draft picks. Foster ranked 6th in rush yards total (1,246), 2nd in rush yards per game (95.8), 3rd among running backs for total yards per game (121.3) and 5th in total touchdowns (13). Not too shabby for a running back returning from back surgery. Oh, AND HE CAN PASS!
MY CHOICE: Rob Gronkowski
I love Arian Foster. He’s a big reason I hope the Texans are chosen for Hard Knocks this summer. But 2014 was A Gronking To Remember(read that last link at your own risk). Rob Gronkowski was a big reason the script changed on the Patriots’ season. It went from a “Trade Tom Brady” 2-2 to “AFC Powerhouse” East Division Champion 12-4 because Bill Belichick upped Gronk’s usage. After two consecutive seasons shortened due to forearm and knee injuries, Gronkowski was named 2014’s unanimous All-Pro tight end leading the position in yards (1,124) and tied for touchdowns with Julius Thomas and Antonio Gates (12). He’s also receiving NFL MVP consideration…and unlike Foster, played all 16 games. And that’s the kind of effort you need in a Fantasy season.
Biggest Draft Bust
Nominees
– Adrian Peterson
– Jimmy Graham
– Montee Ball
– Toby Gerhart
– Zac Stacy
YOUR CHOICE: Adrian Peterson
The truth is, there isn’t anyone more deserving. You likely spent a Top 5 pick on AP and he gave you 1 game and 75 rush yards to show for it. The reasons for that are well documented. And you can raise your hand from wherever you’re at if you were “that guy” trying to claim Peterson off waivers hoping he’ll get on the field some way, some how…
MY CHOICE: Adrian Peterson
There was some clamoring for Ray Rice. I didn’t feel bad for anyone who drafted him. And there were mentions for Doug Martin. The Tampa Bay situation was bad from the start with the worst offensive line in football, a questionable offensive coordinator hire, and Martin’s injury history should have given you enough caution to stay away from him in the draft.
Breakout Player of the Year
Nominees:
– Justin Forsett
– CJ Anderson
– Ryan Tannehill
– Mike Evans
– Odell Beckham Jr.
YOUR CHOICE: Odell Beckham Jr.
I’ve written at length how impressive the 2014 rookie wide receiver class was. None of them caught 100 passes, but 3 recorded over 1,000 yards, and those same 3 caught 9+ touchdowns: Kelvin Benjamin (9), Mike Evans (12) and Odell Beckham Jr. (12)…and Beckham led them all playing just 12 games. Missing 4 games and still posting a line that also included 91 catches and 1,305 yards certainly has you considering ODB on top of your WR draft board next season.
MY CHOICE: Justin Forsett
I won’t argue with the choice of Beckham. He was a miraculous game changer, especially down the stretch. But in a game where consistency from running backs is SO crucial, Justin Forsett was fantastic story. In his 7th season in the league, 4th different team, Forsett doubled his career highs in attempts (235), yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8). Forsett also led the league in yards per carry with 5.7, running away with the starters role left vacant by Ray Rice. At 5’8 and 197 pounds, it was hard to not root for a guy like Forsett…who was also giving you winning outputs week-to-week.
Steal of the Draft
Nominees:
– Antonio Gates
– Lamar Miller
– Tom Brady
– Kelvin Benjamin
– Ben Roethlisberger
YOUR CHOICE: Antonio Gates
I think there are strong arguments for all of the players nominated, but nobody was getting drafted later than Antonio Gates among them. For some reason, Ladarius Green was being selected ahead of him, yet Philip Rivers was making Gates his most reliable receiver in the red zone. In his 12th season, Gates surpassed the 10,000 yard milestone and caught posted his second most total for touchdowns with 12. I took him with my very last pick.
MY CHOICE: Antonio Gates
There was a strong push for Kelvin Benjamin and he was a close choice for me as well. A middle-to-late round choice in most leagues but so consistent as a scoring option through the first 14 weeks of the season. I also would like to take credit for Lamar Miller as an “I Told You So” Guy. While I only had time to preview the East divisions in the AFC and NFC before the start of the season, I had Miller as player you should snag late while you should be weary of Knowshon Moreno.
Most Valuable Fantasy Player
Nominees:
– Andrew Luck
– Aaron Rodgers
– DeMarco Murray
– Le’Veon Bell
– Peyton Manning
YOUR CHOICE: DeMarco Murray
Durability questions? Answered. Contract year? Cha-ching…DeMarco Murray was HISTORICALLY good this year. He broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season Cowboys rushing record. Yes, Emmitt Smith who is the league’s all-time leading rusher. Murray’s league leading 1,845 yards were 484 more than Le’Veon Bell’s, a beast in his own right, and a margin bigger than anyone’s since Chris Johnson ran for 2,000 yards in 2009. Johnson beat out Steven Jackson that year by 590 yards. Murray had 15 rushes of 20+ yards and 13 touchdowns while no other running back had 10 of either statistic.
MY CHOICE: DeMarco Murray
I think Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers would make excellent choices. However DeMarco Murray proved to be the best at his position for the entire season. Le’Veon Bell is a close second though with 2,215 yards from scrimmage, 83 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns.
Thank you everyone for following along this season! Wish we were already drafting for next season. Keep coming back to MichaelPiff.com in the meantime for more than football. It’s going to be a good bit of fun.
michaelpiff 
