NFL Preview 2011

Dan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:41:22 +0000

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

To All NFL Fans,

The lockout ended and we had a full preseason other the annual Hall of Fame game. Now the regular season is upon us and we preview the 2011 NFL season. The Green Bay Packers, last year’s Super Bowl Champions, opens up as the favorite to repeat this year according to many analysts. Only seven times in the history of the game (New England was the last in 2005) has a team repeated as Super Bowl Champions. It is the Patriots once again that Las Vegas lists as the odds on favorite (5:1) to win it all this year. The Packers are a close second in at 6:1 odds.

Some story lines of interest to start the NFL season: The Indianapolis Colts will open the season for the first time in 209 games without Peyton Manning under center. In that same span, the Chicago Bears have had 17 different starting quarterbacks. The Colts have also had some media interest as of late because of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. The former Ohio State Buckeye’s National Championship coach is joining the Colt’s staff and requested a 6 game suspension, one more than much maligned Terrelle Pryor received from Roger Goodell. Another closely watched team is the Dallas Cowboys. The Boys have hired Rex Ryan’s brother Rob to crank up the defense and help get the Cowboys back to prominence. The quarterback situation has been much discussed in Denver as a preseason storyline. Tim Tebow started camp as the heir apparent to John Elway and ended it as the third string QB behind Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn.

In the AFC, the team that looks to challenge the Patriots is the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers appears ready to make the jump as a top tier quarterback and lead his team to the promised land. In the Central Division, perennial powers Pittsburgh and Baltimore will fight for the title, with an improved Cleveland Browns team as a potential sleeper. Pat Shurmer’s west coast offense is a perfect fit for Colt McCoy. Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets should be in the mix all year long as they try to get past the AFC Championship game this year. The Houston Texas are a team that with some breaks could make some noise as well.

In the NFC, a team in the Packer’s owned Central Division, the Chicago Bears, have title hopes if Jay Cutler can play at a high level all year long. The New York Giants plan on being in the mix, but they will have to overcome numerous defensive injuries. If Micheal Vick puts up MVP type numbers again, the Eagles like their chances of dethroning Green Bay. Atlanta and New Orleans, out of the South division, look to be contenders in the NFC as well.

Enjoy the season,

Matthew “Bubba” Harris

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Mixed Emotions for Manning?

Dan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:38:49 +0000

Courtesy of Icon SMI

In 2005, Peyton Manning returned home to New Orleans with brother, Eli and 30,000 lbs. of supplies to aid the relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina. The two brothers hopped into an AirTran Airways aircraft, flew to Indiana and loaded up every compartment of the plane with the help of about 20 employees of AirTran. The Manning’s then helped deliver the necessities to the devastated victims in Louisiana.

In 2010, Peyton Manning will be hopping on a plane with another goal in mind, to win Super Bowl XLIV in front of a crowd that may include many of the same people he helped with their recovery.

Manning’s dad, Archie, the longtime Saints quarterback will have to sit in his air-conditioned loge with mixed emotions. His beloved Saints on one side of the field, his beloved son on the other side.

Peyton is not returning with supplies this time and has no intention of being charitable to the city of New Orleans when he walks out of the tunnel on February 7, 2010 in Miami.

Instead, the best quarterback in the NFL, who threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns during the regular season, will try to take something back to his new home in Indiana.

Manning will be playing for his second NFL title as his Colts beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI. Manning was named the MVP in that contest after completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and a TD to Reggie Wayne.

Archie Manning was celebrating in that game just like he was in 2008 when son, Eli and his New York Giants defeated the heavily favored New England Patriots, 17-14 in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona in Super Bowl XLII. For his efforts, the younger Manning was also named MVP.

Archie Manning never played in a Super Bowl.

Regardless of the outcome on Super Bowl Sunday, all of the Manning’s will still be winners. All of the sacrifice they have given for the people of Louisiana shows the true worth of this football playing family.

And yet another Payton, Head Coach Sean Payton, who literally sacrificed 250K of his own salary to hire Greg Williams as his Defensive Coordinator for his beloved Saints, will be trying to be the one leading the relief efforts for New Orleans on this day.

Every fan who loves NFL football can appreciate the story of this year’s big game. And for one time in the history of the biggest single event on the sports calendar, no one will leave a loser. At least not anyone with the last name Manning.

Lucas Oil Stadium tickets are available to see Payton Manning in action for the Indianapolis Colts today.

Contributing Sources: ESPN, en.wikipedia.org

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NFL Preview 2011

Mixed Emotions for Manning?