Reebok Kamikaze II – “Letter of Intent”
There are many kicks out there, but the Reebok Kamikaze II will always stand out from the crowd. Reebok teamed up with Shawn Kemp to create his signature sneaker. If you are old enough to remember Kemp’s playing days in the NBA you know how he took it strong to the hoop. Many opponents got “posterized” when Kemp would slam home a dish from his teammate Gary Payton.
Reebok first came out with the Kamikaze II in the mid-1990s. Since last year Reebok has bringing back these killer kicks to sneakerheads looking to pick up a pair. This coloryway pays respect to Kemp’s initial declaration of committing to the University of Kentucky. The sneaker has the Wildcat’s colors blue and white. Reebok named this edition the “Letter of Intent.”
The one time McDonald’s All-American decided to take his talents to Lexington and wanted to make a name for himself in one of the all-time best college’s for hoops. Unfortunately there were issues with his school records that redirected Kemp to Trinity Valley Community College.
Kemp felt that he was ready for the pro level just after one semester and entered his name into the NBA draft. After that we all know what happened when he got into the league. Kemp was rocking the Kamikaze II during the 1995-96 season. Some of his fans will say that was his best year ever in the NBA. He averaged a double-double that season. With all that success Shawn played in the NBA All-Star Game and along with Gary Payton led the Seattle Supersonics to their first NBA Finals appearance.
Kemp was a big fan of the Kamikaze II’s and it showed with his production on the court. His sneaker had the Hexalite cushioning that gave the sneaker a lightweight feeling to it. Plus it provided him with impact resistance to help make for a successful landing every time he came back down from playing above the rim.
Just like back in the 90’s these sneakers feature the Kamikaze zig-zag, but in the Kentucky themed colors of royal and white. Upon closer inspection of the sneaker you can see the inlaid brick pattern on the blue suede. The “Letter of Intent” Kamikaze II’s are available at Reebok.com as well as places like Finishline and Eastbay.
Sep 24th
Justin Moore Talks New Album, “Off the Beaten Path”
Country music singer Justin Moore recently released his highly-anticipated third studio album “Off the Beaten Path.” His other albums are “Justin Moore” that was released in 2009 and “Outlaws Like Me” that came out in 2011.
In addition to his new album, Moore has also teamed up with Crown Royal to honor heroes across the country through the brand’s Heroes Project. He recorded a song, titled “Heroes,” specifically for the project, which is available to fans 21 years or older for free download only at CrownHeroesSong.com. For every download redeemed through Veteran’s Day, Crown Royal will donate $1 to the Armed Forces Foundation.
Justin also loves college football. He is a huge fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Justin was able to talk to me about his latest album, working with Crown Royal, and football.
Art Eddy: First off I have to say congrats on the new album, “Off the Beaten Path.” This is your third studio album. How do you feel you have evolved through the three albums?
Justin Moore: I think as an artist you understand what you want to do and say and be, and, in the same breadth, you understand what your fans expect from you. So I feel like I’ve done a better job of writing with all of that in mind. I stepped out on this album and took a couple of chances that on another album I probably wouldn’t have. It’s probably my most diverse album. It allowed me to stay true to who I am and grow the music to a level where we can grow our fan base to the level we hope to see it at.
AE: How long did it take for you to complete this latest album?
JM: It seemed like an eternity! We started working on it about 10 months after we put the last album out. It’s a long process when you consider writing songs, finding songs and getting in there and recording them. We’ll give this one a 6 to 10 month break and then go back to work.
AE: When you are writing a songs for the album how do you pick which ones will be the singles to be put on the radio?
JM: I lean on the folks around me a lot. My wife’s been very influential in helping me pick songs, the record label, management, anyone’s opinion is a good opinion because everybody loves music and everyone has their own opinion. So I just listen to the people around me.
AE: I was fortunate to see you perform during the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard race weekend. You put on an outstanding show. Where are some of your favorite places to play?
JM: First of all, thank you very much. That was a lot of fun. Indy is always a lot of fun. If I had to choose one, it’d have to be Arkansas, it is where I’m from. Anytime I get to play at home or near my home it’s always pretty special.
AE: Speaking of Crown Royal you teamed up with them for your song “Heroes.” Can you tell me a bit about your collaboration with them?
JM: I was fortunate a couple years ago to get involved with Crown Royal and the “Your Heroes Name Here” program which honors a very deserving individual around the Brickyard 400. Coming into this year and knowing we’re going to be involved again I wanted to do something more musically than what we did in the past and try and raise more awareness and make this program an even bigger deal than Crown Royal has made it alone.
We recorded “Heroes” and Crown Royal had a great idea to throw it up on CrownHeroesSong.com and every time somebody downloads it for free, Crown Royal will donate $1 to our Armed Forces Foundation. This is the kind of stuff that’s easy to make happen once we have the idea. It’s really cool and humbling for us to use our platform, both mine and Crown Royal’s, to help people who are very deserving.
AE: I know you are a big Arkansas Razorback fan. The team is 3-0 right now. You must be happy with the start of their season. Are you nervous about the injury to the Razorbacks QB, Brandon Allen at all?
JM: I am very nervous about the injury. Prior to the season I wouldn’t have really thought much about the quarterback position because I hadn’t seen him play since last year, but Brandon Allen’s played really good this year and already early on has evolved as a leader. I know we’re a little shaky in the backup position, but hopefully we will get him back sooner rather than later. As long as we keep handing the ball off to number 3 and number 32 I think we’ve got a good shot to win any ball game if they keep playing like they have been. I do hope Brandon gets back to healthy soon.
AE: Who is your all-time favorite Razorback?
JM: Wow! Oh man, I think I’d have to say my all-time favorite Razorback, as far as football goes, would have to be Taylor Wilson, our quarterback last year. What he endured and the way he led our team in the wake of the catastrophe that was Bobby Petrino, I thought he handled himself as a 21 year-old kid with a lot of class and I really commend him for that. Obviously he is a great football player, but that aside, I really respected the way he handled himself and the class that he displayed.
Sep 23rd
Week 3 NFL Picks
So entering Week 3 of the NFL season, 22 of 32 games have been decided by 7 points or less. That’s nutty. Like, historically nutty. That shit just doesn’t happen. It makes it difficult to be on point with the picks, man. But 8-8 is a big improvement from 4-11-1, so let’s keep that trend rolling…
At Philadelphia -3 Kansas City
Andy Reid returns to Philly with the undefeated Chiefs. Philly’s defense is not good. They’ve given up an average of 460.5 yards per game over the first two weeks. The Chargers and Redskins are the only two defenses that have allowed more yards. The Chiefs on the other hand have a pretty solid D, but I think the up-tempo attack of the Eagles will prevail here.
Pick: Eagles -3
At Tennessee -3 San Diego
Philip Rivers is looking sharp and the Titans are not. A league-worst 123 passing yards a game isn’t gonna cut it. Chris Johnson’s been dancing too much behind the line of scrimmage, Kenny Britt seems to realize his time in Tennessee is done, and Jake Locker’s only completing 56 percent of his passes. The Chargers have put up 61 points in two games. San Diego spoils Tennessee’s home opener.
Pick: Chargers +3
At Minnesota -6.5 Cleveland
Good news for the Browns – Josh Gordon is back. Bad news – they traded away their best offensive player. Trent Richardson will miss the start of the Hoyer era. Dude found out he was a Colt while listening to the radio. Stay classy, Cleveland! The Vikings don’t look all that threatening, but the Browns seem to be playing for next year just two weeks into the season.
Pick: Vikings -6.5
At New England -7 Tampa Bay
The Pats offense has looked a bit weak so far, but they’ll get it together.
Pick: Pats -7
Houston -2.5 At Baltimore
The Ravens may be without Ray Rice which is bad news for a team that’s only averaging 2.8 yards a carry. The Texans can outscore this bunch.
Pick: Texans -2.5
At Dallas -4 St. Louis
These two teams are pretty evenly matched, but I like the Rams here. They’ve looked pretty solid so far, and I think they can take one in Texas.
Pick: Rams +4
At New Orleans -7.5 Arizona
The Saints play different in the comfort of their own dome. They should take this one without too much trouble.
Pick: Saints -7.5
At Washington -2 Detroit
Shootout city. The Redskins have the worst defense in the NFL. They’ve allowed 511.5 yards per game so far. Yikes. The Lions can score in bunches. With or without Reggie. Take the over and watch the fireworks.
Pick: Lions +2
Green Bay -2 At Cincinnati
The Packers have one of the most explosive offenses in football. The Bengals beat up on the Steelers at home, but their defense is going to have a difficult time bottling up Green Bay’s multiple offensive weapons.
Pick: Packers -2
At Carolina -1 NY Giants
Two 0-2 teams try to turn things around, someone’s gotta win, right? I think the Giants are the better winless squad.
Pick: Giants +1
At Miami -2.5 Atlanta
Toughest game of the week to call. Are the Fins for real? Can they contain Atlanta’s passing attack? Can the Falcons get production out of their backup RBs with Jackson sidelined? I thought the Fins would be much improved this season, and I’m going to keep supporting their turnaround here.
Pick: Fins -2.5
At San Francisco -10 Indianapolis
Luck gets a new weapon and the Seahawks proved that the mighty Niners aren’t invincible. Trent Richardson was already an angry runner. Now he’s going to be even more motivated to destroy people. I think SF wins this one, but it’ll be closer than a two score margin.
Pick: Colts +10
At Seattle -19.5 Jacksonville
What the what? Three score deficit in Week 3? Harsh bro! But the worst team in football competing up against the most legit home field advantage in the NFL? The Jags are gonna get trounced.
Pick: Seahawks -19.5
At NY Jets -2.5 Buffalo
I interviewed EJ Manuel earlier this week and when we talked about that near win against the Pats in Week 1, EJ said, “we don’t want to become a shoulda, woulda, coulda type team.” I love this guy. He’s calm, collected, unnerved. EJ over Geno, Bills over Jets.
Pick: Bills +2.5
Chicago -2.5 At Pittsburgh
When the free agent lineman that you picked up off the street looks better than all four of your regular starters, your o-line is a mess. The Steelers need their high draft picks to show up and help. Miller and Bell won’t be factors this week, but DeCastro and Adams need to start living up to their pedigree. Jarvis Jones too. Pittsburgh’s offense is a mess: nowhere to run, Haley’s getting yelled at by the team’s best wide out, Ben needs more freedom to run the no huddle and call his own plays, etc. It’s tough times all around in Pittsburgh, and the offense shoulders the bulk of the blame. I want to believe they can turn it around, but I really do have my doubts. Steelers as home dogs shouldn’t happen though.
Pick: Steelers +2.5
At Denver -15 Oakland
The Broncos look scary good and the Raiders look borderline competent. This spread seems to fit just right. Denver can take away Oakland’s biggest strength. The Raiders lead the league in rushing and the Broncos are first in the league against the run (that’s what happens when you build large leads early). It all adds up to more time for Peyton to wreak havoc.
Pick: Broncos -15
Last Week: 8-8
Season: 12-19-1
Last Season: 136-121-5
Sep 19th
Football Inspired Cocktails from Kilbeggan
One of the most anticipated seasons of the year is finally here – Football Season! Since the final play of the Super Bowl last February, football fans have been waiting for the boys of fall to take the field. From tailgating, to fantasy league, to that amazing play that moves the chains, there’s nothing not to love about the start of football season.
While watching the games on Saturday or Sunday here are a Kilbeggan cocktail recipes to help you enjoy it. For those of you who want to fight that Autumn chill while tailgating, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey has a cocktail fit for the gridiron: the Kilbeggan Tailgater’s Toddy. Whether you’re grilling outside the stadium or kicking your feet up at home, the Tailgater’s Toddy will warm you up on game day.
KILBEGGAN TAILGATER’S TODDY
INGREDIENTS:
2 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
1 part DeKuyper Buttershots
Hot water
METHOD:
Build all ingredients into a pre-heated coffee mug.
KILBEGGAN AUTUMN ELIXIR
Recipe by Anna Walsh, of the Long Island Cocktail Bar in Cork, Ireland.
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 Parts Kilbeggan Irish whiskey
1/2 Part Yellow Chartreuse
1/2 Part Lemon Juice
3/4 Part Honey Syrup (2 parts honey, 1 part water)
3 Blackberries
METHOD:
Muddle blackberries with honey syrup in a shaker base. Add the rest of the ingredients and ice, shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lemon zest and blackberries.
Sep 18th
Don Jon Prize Pack Giveaway
Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a strong, handsome, good old fashioned guy. His buddies call him Don Jon due to his ability to “pull” a different woman every weekend, but even the finest fling doesn’t compare to the bliss he finds alone in front of the computer watching pornography. Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) is a bright, beautiful, good old fashioned girl. Raised on romantic Hollywood movies, she’s determined to find her Prince Charming and ride off into the sunset. Wrestling with good old fashioned expectations of the opposite sex, Jon and Barbara struggle against a media culture full of false fantasies to try and find true intimacy in this unexpected comedy written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
- $30 Fandango gift-card
- Don Jon mints
- Don Jon air freshener
- Don Jon branded tank top
- Don Jon branded tissues
- Don Jon branded gym bag
To enter, just follow us on Twitter (@MANjr) and drop us an email below. Good luck!
Sep 18th
The NFL Jersey Report
His team may not have the best record, but Robert Griffin, III has the best-selling jersey. Last week RG3’s jersey outsold 29 other teams as a whole (Not the Giants or Ravens’ jerseys). How do I know all of this? Well I checked the “Jersey Report” from DICK’S Sporting Goods.
DICK’S upgraded the “Jersey Report,” to now include detailed graphs showcasing sales by player, team, position and division, as well as fan stories, expert analysis of how jerseys are rising and falling. As a football fan it was interesting to read the following stats on the sale of NFL jerseys.
Here are some quick hits on the sale of NFL jerseys
Monday Night Football:
•Last night’s game had the current #9 overall team in jersey sales (Steelers) vs. the #13 team (Bengals)
•Troy Polamalu’s jersey was the only defensive player to crack the top ten overall (last week) but has since fallen to #21.
•Heath Miller’s jersey is the second most popular for the Steelers
•AJ Green was second in receiving yards after week 1 and is currently #14 in overall jersey sales (#1 on the Bengals)
In the past week of sales……
•RG3’s jersey outsold 29 other teams as a whole (Not the Giants or Ravens’ jerseys)
•LeSean McCoy’s jersey joins QBs in top five
•1. RG3 2. Andrew Luck 3. Peyton Manning 4. LeSean McCoy 5. Eli Manning.
•Rising star – McCoy’ jersey has jumped 24 spots since last week
•Over one-quarter of all jerseys sold are for the NFC East. The bottom two teams in the division are in the top three in sales, though, with WAS # 1 and NYG #3 overall.
•It’s a QB league, more than 40% of jerseys sold are quarterback jerseys
Each week you can check out the Jersey Report to see which is the hottest selling jersey of that week and which one is losing popularity. It is like the stock market for jerseys.
Sep 17th
Adam Perry Lang Interview
Adam Perry Lang is a classically French-trained chef that took his talents to the world of barbecue. He was the founder of the nationally acclaimed restaurant Daisy May’s BBQ. Lang is really serious about his barbecue. In his first year on the national barbecue circuit, he won Grand Champion honors at the World Pork Expo as well as first place for his Pork Shoulder “The World Series of BBQ” in Kansas City.
Lang traveled across the country this summer to collect the coolest handmade products for the ultimate tailgate, including George Dickel Tennessee Whisky. Adam prepared his famous barbecue for a cooking segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
He recently released the second edition of his first, New York Times best-selling book “Serious Barbecue.” It’s considered by many to be a “barbecue bible” and is currently available in bookstores or at his website.
Adam was kind enough to take the time to chat with me about grilling, his book, and his work with George Dickel Tennessee Whisky.
Art Eddy: First off I would like to discuss the reprinting of your book “Serious Barbecue.” What inspired you to reprint the book?
Adam Perry Lang: Well it was my first book, but I had the privilege to self-publish it. I got the rights back. There was such a demand for it. It was tough to get. It was very expensive on Amazon. I decided to take control of it and bought the rights back from the original publisher.
It is a re-issue of it. It is doing great. It is exactly as the title states. It is serious barbecue. What I found out about barbecue is that very few people want to know entry level barbecue. They want bragging rights barbecue out of the gate and I teach them that.
AE: Grilling can be somewhat intimidating. What are some tips you can give to people that tend to make hockey pucks out of meat on the grill?
APL: Well that is just the thing. It might be serious, but it is no difficult to do. You have to get very serious about it. When you are dealing with fire it is a bit more unruly than just turning a knob on a stove or a range. Whether you are doing it or not you have to get serious, because you turn your back on it and the fire almost has its own personality. It knows then you are walking away. It is going to get you.
AE: What do you prefer charcoal or gas?
APL: Definitely charcoal or wood. I am a live fire guy. Although I do like gas for certain things. I love it for its convenience. I recommend it all the time. I tell people to buy the grill that you are going to cook on the most. To me it is not just about cooking. It is about getting out there with your family, hanging out with your friends, and even just being out there by yourself. It is just being outdoors and getting to experience it for yourself.
While I prefer charcoal, wood, and natural forms of cooking because I love fire, I don’t down someone who is cooking with gas or an electric.
AE: For those who might not be the best chef, what type of meal is easy to cook and is somewhat foolproof?
APL: It is not the actual dish that makes it foolproof. It is the techniques. I think one of the best techniques to have is having a safe area on the grill. I typically take a flat cast iron griddle and put it on the pan. If the flames get out of control I can take the food and put it on the flat cast iron griddle. It is still getting cooked, but it gets a break from the direct fire and the flames.
Whether you are going hot dogs, hamburgers, pork, steak it is really less about the recipe and more letting yourself cook anything with some simple little tips. Those tips is what I go over in “Serious Barbecue” and in all of my books. That is how I like to teach people.
AE: You recently had teamed up with George Dickel Tennessee Whisky to create some excellent dishes. What was that experience like?
APL: Even before I met the awesome people at George Dickel I was always a whisky guy. I am not a big wine drinker. I am a beer and whisky drinker. For me whisky is the perfect pairing for grilling and just outdoor life. It is just a sipping drink. For me it is a break in the action for a lot of grilled meats.
Look at the Japanese. Every Yakitori type bar you go to has an awesome selection of whisky. They know what they are doing. For me pairing up with them was a natural fit. I was looking for someone like me, who was really like me, to jump on board with. Their whole motto is exactly what I am about, which is “hand made the hard way.”
I am really into craft. I am into doing things with my hands. Getting into it and not buying the simple way out. Here is a whisky company that as they are making the whisky they are taking the notes down. They are doing all by hand. They are tasting it. It is not heavily automated. It is all just wicked. For me that is how I like to cook. Plus I love their whisky. So it was an easy pairing.
AE: What is your favorite meal to make?
APL: I am a steak guy. I love grilling steaks. For me that is the ultimate. I cut them thick. I cook them hot, slow. I do many different things. I am known as what they call an active griller. I like to move stuff around the grill a lot. I just love steak. Charred, beautiful, sometimes dry aged, sometimes not and just straight off the grill. That’s when my kids are all over me. They want the first bite.
Sep 17th
Galileo Puts Your iOS in Motion.
The Motrr Company has created the Galileo. It is a revolutionary, iOS-controlled robotic iPhone platform with infinite spherical rotation capability. Just swipe your finger on the screen of your iPad or other iOS device and Galileo reacts, orienting your iPhone or iPod Touch accordingly. With applications in areas of photography, cinematography, social networking, and video conferencing, Galileo gives iOS devices endless possibilities of remote-controlled motion. Capable of infinite 360° pan-and-tilt at speeds up to 200° per second in any orientation, Galileo is an invaluable tool to everyone from an amateur photographer to the professional cinematographer, and vastly improves the experience of video chat for anyone needing to stay connected.
You can use Galileo to bring distant experiences closer than ever before, capture an exquisite sunset panorama, and to film silky smooth gimbal shots with unparalleled power and ease. Some instances where this device will come in handy is for video calls and conferencing so you can stay connected as you follow the action. If you are studying away from the classroom. You will be able to follow professors around the classroom.
For those who like use photography the time-lapse feature is great. You have the ability to create dynamic time-lapse videos that encompass movement along with passage of time. Just like photos, movies can be made with ease as well. Shoot interesting transition shots, panning down, panning across and up, etc. Mount the Galileo on rails and create a mini-rig for your iPhone camera!
One of the Galileo features is Infinite 360° panning and tilting rotation. You can go 200° per second pan-and-tilt speeds. You can remotely control it from your iPad, iPhone, or web browser. Swipe your finger across the screen or move your mouse to control the movement of the Galileo and your device. An ergonomic mouse can help reduce the fatigue caused by long computer sessions.
It is also outfitted with a standard tripod screw to let you mount the Galileo on any tripod. It acts as a charging station for your iPhone or iPod. It charges your device while plugged in and there is a rechargeable Lithium polymer battery that lets you use your Galileo anywhere. For more info check out Motrr’s website.
Sep 16th
Tyler Capps Teaches You How to Doodle Like a Rock Star
Tyler Capps draws better than you do. And he loves to cook, too. Watch this guy work his magic and teach you a thing or two on how to doodle in this American Express #PassionProject video:
Learn more about Tyler’s 2AM chili/drawing project and how he became a Reddit sensation:
Sep 13th
Week 2 NFL Picks
Okay so last week’s picks were a bit of a disaster. But hey, it happens. It’s a long season, so stick with us. Week 1 is hard to peg, but we know a lot more about the NFL with the first slate of meaningful games behind us. On to Week 2:
At New England -11.5 NY Jets
Geno Smith flashed some skills in that gift of a win last week. It took a boneheaded penalty (and a fine of nearly 8K) from Lavonte David to secure the win for the Jets. The Bills almost shocked the world in Week One, but the Pats edged ‘em out. Spread seems a bit high but the Pats are playing at home. I’m still calling for no blowout though.
Pick: Jets +11.5
At Philadelphia -7.5 San Diego
The total is set at 55 for this game, so the odds makers aren’t expecting a whole lot of defense in Philly. Chip Kelly’s offense looked tremendous, but the Chargers showed some spark against Houston last week in a game they should’ve one. If the Eagles can sustain their uptempo attack and not wither away late, they should be a force to reckon with in the NFC East.
Pick: Eagles -7.5
At Baltimore -6.5 Cleveland
Both these teams have problems in the passing game. Cleveland misses Josh Gordon and I’m sure Flacco wishes he had some more solid options to work with (like Anquan maybe?). The Pitta loss clearly hurts. Dallas Clark is no spring chicken. That Baltimore D looks kinda suspect, too. All that said, even if Richardson breaks off a monster game, Weeden looks like a liability. Batimore moves to the top of the division first with a win on Sunday.
Pick: Ravens -6.5
At Houston -9 Tennessee
Yea, yea, the Titans stomped on the Steelers after they lost multiple players for the year in that Week 1 matchup. Congrats. The Titans still couldn’t get the ground game going and Jake Locker wasn’t exactly lighting it up either (11 for 20 for 125 yards and no scores). I think a correction is in order here. The Texans are coming off an amazing come-from-behind victory and they’re going to stick it to the former Oilers.
Pick: Texans -9
At Indianapolis -2.5 Miami
Colts D looked suspect. Miami’s did not. Still there’s something about this young Indy team in that dome. You gotta go home team here.
Pick: Colts -2.5
Carolina -3 At Buffalo
I can’t remember the last time I saw the fans in Buffalo as fired up as they were last week. The Panthers are coming to town with a formidable d-line and an ability to hang with quality teams. I like Buffalo to build on their near-win last week, though.
Pick: Bills +3
At Atlanta -6.5 St. Louis
The Rams look different this year. Richardson looks ready to shoulder the load and the offense in general just looks like it had more spark. The Falcons can spark, too though. Especially at home coming off a big loss to a divisional foe. Atlanta takes this one.
Pick: Falcons -6.5
At Green Bay -7.5 Washington
No matter how slow the Skins start, they proved that they can hang around late. I still like the Packers to play a solid game throughout and cruise to victory at home.
Pick: Packers -7.5
At Kansas City -3 Dallas
The new-look Chiefs are looking to win as many games this year as they did through 13 weeks last year. That second win won’t be easy, though. Even with Romo hobbled by injury, the Chiefs are going to have their hands full. Arrowhead’s a tough place to play and Charles is a monster, sure, but I think Dallas can hang.
Pick: Cowboys +3
At Chicago -6 Minnesota
The Bears stole one from CIncy, but the Vikings looked pretty non-threatening last week. Outside of AP’s first carry, they couldn’t get much done.
Pick: Bears -6
New Orleans -3.5 At Tampa Bay
The storyline could’ve been different. The Bucs could be 1-0 looking to rally round Josh Freeman and make a push towards relevancy. Instead, they pissed away a win, having players-only meetings and you got Freeman being stripped of his captaincy and missing the team photo. On the flipside, you got Payton back at the helm of a Saints team looking ready to inflict some damage on the NFC South. No dome, no problem for the Saints.
Pick: Saints -3.5
Detroit -1.5 At Arizona
Double team Calvin? Not a problem, that just opens things up for Reggie. Bush had a monster game despite messing up his groin and dislocating a thumb. Dude was a few inches shy of two more TDs that got Joiqued away from him. Bush’s load won’t lighten up this week as Patrick Peterson tries to lock down Calvin.
Pick: Lions -1.5
At Oakland -5.5 Jacksonville
Man, Pryor looked good. Not just cause he led the league in rushing before McCoy went off on MNF, either. Kid was pretty poised. He kept plays alive, went through his progressions and just made plays, man. Raiders fans might not want to get too optimistic, but playing the worst team in football in Week 2 should help. I don’t expect
Pick: Raiders -5.5
Denver -4.5 At NY Giants
The Manning Bowl is in the Meadowlands, but you gotta love the chances of big bro’s team better here.
Pick: Broncos -4.5
At Seattle -3 San Francisco
Seattle is a different team at home, yes, but the Niners look poised to make a big Super Bowl push this season. It all starts with winning the division, and this is the toughest roadblock in the NFC West. The Niners are up for the challenge.
Pick: 49ers +3
At Cincinnati -7 Pittsburgh
No one had it worse than the Steelers in Week One. The offense mustered only one garbage TD. That’s atrocious. Losing your best lineman and not having a backup that’s dressed will do that do a team. So will non-Dwyer options at running back. This will be a true test for the Steelers. They’re a well-coached team with quality players on both sides of the ball. If they can bounce back here, they can make a season of it. If they can’t run the ball or protect Ben at all, then it’s going to be a very long year.
Pick: Steelers +7
Last Week: 4-11-1
Last Season: 136-121-5
Sep 12th
