Dan's unrevised Week 4 picks!

NFL Week 4 picks.

Well, to say I could've done better with my picks last week would be an understatement. I'm a little disappointed in myself but when you consider that those three ties could potentially have gone my way, I could be at 7-8 which is considerably better than 4-8-3. Well, I'm crossing my fingers this week that I won't be back in the gutter.

Also, I didn't really check through these twice. I would say that it's not to overthink some lines, but in honesty, it's because I'm lazy and it's been a long night.

Jets (-3.5) over BILLS

Here's to hoping the Bills go 0-16! And since when have you ever heard a team lost their starting quarterback, are going with a rookie from Stanford who was picked in the third round this year and have been creamed the past two weeks, then felt better about a team? The Bills are looking kind of hopeless right now.

DOLPHINS (-4) over Raiders

This will be the worst game of the week. Without a doubt. TV ratings on this one will be so incredibly bad that the NHL's game in London may top this game in the States. That's bad. Do you know what else is going to be bad? The Raiders after they get worn down by the Miami heat while wearing those black uniforms in the sun. Also, Daunte Culpepper will remind Miami fans why the gave the keys to Cleo Lemon last year and Trent Green this season.

Ravens (-4.5) over BROWNS

You think that Derek Anderson can pick about this Ravens defense, albeit not as good as previous incarnations, like he did to the Bengals D? Yeah right. At least Jamal Lewis will have some motivation in this game, it's just too bad that the Ravens know what he's capable of and he doesn't have a solid line in front of him.

Texans (-2.5) over FALCONS

Matt Schaub will exact his revenge on the Falcons, even without Andre Johnson. Falcons fans will boo Joey Harrington. I can't be wrong on that two weeks in a row, can I?

LIONS (+3) over Bears

The Bears defense, especially their secondary, has been torn apart by injuries. Their two starting corners and one starting safety won't be playing this week. Rex Grossman won't be playing but that's a good thing for Chicago. Brian Griese isn't that good, but he's a breath of fresh compared to Sexy Rexy.

VIKINGS (+2) over Packers

Because I like the colour purple and not Brett Favre.

COWBOYS (-13) versus Rams

In Madden, I obviously play with God's team and for some reason, no matter what the circumstances are, I can always kill the Rams. Think utterly demoralizing blow outs. In Madden 07, I played the Rams in the NFC finals and jacked them 55-0. I had 28 points in the first quarter. These are things that don't matter, but I feel I should tell people.

Bucs (+3) over PANTHERS

Unless someone talks trash to Steve Smith. That would be the absolute only thing that can save Carolina from David Carr's white gloves of justice. If Delhomme does play. I don't think he'll be able to throw well enough to get the ball down-field to Smith.

NINERS (+2) over Seahawks

The Niners beat Seattle twice last year when Seattle had a better team than their current one and San Francisco had a worse one. Also, I'm getting points for a home team.

Steelers (-6) over CARDINALS

I really like this Steelers team. I think they're top 4 in the league, but that's kind of easy to say while looking around the league but whatever. The Cardinals have been killing me by covering every week but the Steelers are just too good to not win by a touchdown. Even if Arizona's coach was on Pittsburgh last year.

CHARGERS (-12) over Chiefs

This is the Chargers' break out week. I mean, it has to be, right?

COLTS (-9.5) over Broncos

Peyton Manning has always had Denver's number. Even if the Broncos do have the best CB tandem in the league with Bailey and Bly,

GIANTS (+3) over Eagles

I would've loved to have told my story of being actually disappointed the Redskins lost to the Giants last week but those jerks are on a bye. This is a big "Prove It" game for Philly who really has to show that last week wasn't a fluke and a product of Detroit's defense more than their offense. Will they? I think they'll be average which may not be enough against a surprising Giants squad.

Patriots (-7.5) over BENGALS

If the Patriots don't win by 14 I'd be surprised. The Bengals have a great offense but they won't outscore this power-house Patriots team. Oh, and take the over if you're betting. This game should get into the 60s.

Season: 18-21-6

Quickly

On ESPN.com’s latest layout of their front page, they a Fan Favourites box in the lower right corner with a Featured Comment displayed prominently. This comment is usually about the top story of the day or last 12 hours and is typically insightful, opinionative or funny. Late last night, I stumbled upon this beauty: “I think staying loose is the key for the Phils now. This have been a great MLB season. And it only looks to be getting better.” Posted by metscrazy10.

There are two things principally wrong with this statement that goes beyond logic. Firstly, the atrocious grammar of “This have been” makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Anybody with the slightest grasp of the English language should realize how egregious that string of words is.

Secondly, why is someone who is presumably crazy for the Mets encouraging the Phillies? The Phils just pulled into a first place tie with the Mets and could very easily bounce them from the playoffs. This person’s team is possibly on the verge of missing the post season and now a fan of theirs is openly rooting for their heated rival.

Also, has anyone noticed the symmetry of the Colorado Rockies and Colorado Avalanche teams? The Avs had an amazing streak down the home stretch, including a massive win streak or two, only to fall short of a playoff berth in the season’s dying days. Now their baseball counterparts are putting together a similar run. Here’s crossing my fingers that the Rockies can make it but, with their final series against division leader Arizona; they have a really tough path ahead of them.

Down with Hockey

Just when you think that the sport that goes out of it's way to sabotage itself is starting to turn the corner and get on the right track, something happens to send it back into the negatives.

Firstly, I like the new slimmer designs for the league's jerseys. Eliminating the clutching and grabbing will go a long way towards not just the possibility of more scoring, but more skill being involved in the game. Hopefully this will help even further weed out the big dumbass on each team who can't really play the game properly, but can fight with his counterpart on the other team. Wade Belak, your days are numbered.

Now, how much of a neanderthal do you have to be to be to go headhunting in an exhibition game? Steve Downie's hit on Dean McAmmond was completely uncalled for and a black eye for the game. What kind of person leaves their feet to hit someone directly in the head? This offense is indefensible in a meaningful game and that much worse when it's a pre-season exhibition. Downie showed clear intent to injure McAmmond. The event was sickening.

How long the league suspends the Flyer's hopeful will be a true indication of how they're going to go on treating their players. Every other league has really started toughening up suspensions and monitoring their player's conduct, on and off the field of play. This is a good chance for the NHL to show they know what they're doing and that they deserve to be better than the red-headed step-child of sports that sits in the corner being kicked and spit on.

What's even worse is the fact that, when Downie played for the Canadian team in the "Super Series" against Russia. Fans would openly cheer when Downie laid out Russian opponents with similar head-hunting style hits. How hypocritical and borderline racist is that? The entire sport of hockey needs to stop glamourizing the huge hits and emphasize, even more, that it's a skill game. Their old style isn't cutting it anymore and somebody at the NHL's head office isn't getting the memos.

San Fran bids Bonds adieu

Barry Bonds played his last game in the city that welcomed him for 15 years last night when the Giants took on the Padres in their home season finale. The Giants have already announced that they have no intention of bringing back their star slugger for another year, even though he wants to play.

That move by the Giants is a bold one that had to be tough. Letting go of the career home run leader, who's pretty much only loved by the citizens of San Francisco and the face of their franchise for a decade and a half, is no move that you want to be forced to make. But with the state of the Giants over the past few years, it was fairly obvious that they had to make a move, shake things up and go younger.

Whether or not Bonds will catch on somewhere else remains to be seen. He would demand at $15 million to play and is best suited for a DH role, limiting his options to AL teams. Expect this to be a big, plodding story over the winter, but not as big as it was last year.

Also, in Bonds news yesterday, apparently fans voted to have the 756 ball branded and sent to the hall of fame with the asterisk symbol on it. That seems dumb to me. The only reason Mark Ecko would do something like that is to gain some advertising for his clothing line. Congratulations, you defaced what could be considered a national treasure. Why not go piss on the Statute of Liberty while you're at it?

Vick gets bitten again

Alright, so just when you thought that the Michael Vick stuff would start dying down and we wouldn't have to hear anything until his sentencing next week, something else comes up. Vick and the three associates he was indicted with on the federal charges are now being charged with state charges.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. He's already worked everything on the federal charges and now he has to deal with state nuisance? That's too much, even for the alleged crimes. Think about it this way before you're ignorant and say "He deserves it.":

Imagine driving down your local highway, over the speed limit and getting a ticket for it which you fight and deal with. Then after you've made a deal with the federal court, a state or provincial attorney comes in and hits you with the same ticket.

How about getting a parking ticket and having to pay first your state/province then the city you got said ticket in? Pretty crappy I'd say.

The state of Virginia has no business coming in with these new charges.

Let Vick get on with his life, serve his time (to be sentenced in December) and pay his penance. It's what every person should be entitled to, star athlete or not.

What’s wrong with the Saints?

Even more importantly, is Reggie Bush, the man who was supposed to be the savoir of New Orleans and the next great running-back, a bust? He’s not showing what he’s supposed to be able to do so far. Is it out of the realm of possibility that a player that everyone fell in love with could actually suck? This is a running-back that refuses to run between the tackles, a talent you absolutely need if you want to be a primary running-back. Bush is going to have to toughen up if he wants to show the critics what he can do and now, with Deuce McAllister reportedly on the shelf, he’ll have the chance and he better not blow it. McAllister is, according to ESPN sources, out for the season with a torn ACL.

Bush and the running game isn’t the only wrong in New Orleans. Drew Brees looked awful in last night’s loss to the Titans. When Keith Bullock, a linebacker who is slightly above average at best, picks you off three times, a few Rex Grossman comparisons may be in order. It’s not all Brees’ fault; the Saints wide receivers just aren’t getting open for Brees to hit them. Also, nobody is surprised, or going to be surprised, with the Saints unique looks on offense. Their packages have all been dissected now that teams have a year’s worth of tape on them.

As for the defense, they’re just not making enough stops. They weren’t that good last year and this year they look a bit worse; but at least last year, the offense was running great and keeping the Saints in the game.

Finally, an interesting point was brought up in last night’s broadcast: not only has no team repeated in the NFC south over the last for years, but the last place team for the year before has jumped for worst to first. Looks like the Saints are doomed and we should all start putting our money on the Buccaneers.

Week 3: 4-8-3
Season: 18-21-6

Wild week 3

I swear that wasn’t a sports broadcaster that didn’t use the whole “Philly might wear those ugly old uniforms more often now” after yesterday’s outburst against a seriously weak Lions defense. Sure, I thought this was the beginning of the end for Donovan McNabb but when you’re right 51% of the time, you’re 49%.

God’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, reassured everyone that they’re now the best team in the NFC (not saying much) after beating down the Chicago Bears IN Chicago. In fairness to Bears fans, their vaunted defense is banged up and getting worse every week. Also, all-universe linebacker Brian Urlacher picked up his first sack in nearly two seasons. When you can win defensive player of the year awards and be considered for MVPs without picking up sack while playing linebacker, you’re definitely doing a lot of different things right.

The Oakland Raider pulled the exact same late time out ploy that Mike Shanahan burned them with last week to take home a win against Cleveland. The Browns nailed the try that was negated by the time out and had the real attempt blocked by the Raiders. If the Browns are able to pull off that scheme next week, this would be one of the most startling patterns I’ve seen in a while.

The Patriots are as good as we thought they were. The Bills are as bad as we thought they were. And my call was answered for the Bills backup QB. Trent Edwards, the rookie out of Stanford, went 10-for-20 for 97 yards which is very Losman-esque. Maybe it’s the rest of the offense that needs an overhaul.

LDT and the Chargers lost again while Tomlinson only reached 62 yards on the ground. When are the what’s-wrong-with-the-Chargers articles being broken out? Maybe, since LDT was originally meant to be on the Madden 08 cover, the Madden Curse attached itself to LDT, knowing he was supposed to be there? Is that too much of a stretch? Is Vince Young saved by this? It’s looking like it.

Joey Harrrington threw for 361 yards but still lost to the Panthers. Harrington is just a spot holder while Byron Leftwich learns the playbook. Why is he out there playing well enough to possibly create controversy? What a selfish player.

As for the Monday night game, I still don’t see New Orleans losing their home opener. Hopefully they can take care of Vince Young’s mobility.

This Week: 4-6-3
This Season: 18-19-6