SportsNation Blog Archives
Miami Dolphins
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Brad Childress gets Brett Favre and quickly ends up with a hefty contract extension. Lovie Smith gets Jay Cutler and finds people wondering if he'll soon be unemployed. Some guys have all the luck. Nevertheless, the Bears enter Sunday's showdown against the Eagles just one game off the wild-card pace, despite losing their past two. And Cutler's old team in Denver has lost three in a row and may be without Kyle Orton against the Chargers this week. One SportsNation blogger thinks Cutler is still the right guy for the Bears, but does his new team or his old team need a win more this week?
- "Cutler has the ability to win games for his team; an ability that was overly praised when Brett Favre was in Green Bay but is now largely overlooked in evaluating today's quarterbacks (for some reason, people have fallen in love with "guys who just know how to win," forgetting that those guys have either rock solid defenses or unstoppable running games). But don't ask me, ask any of the many quarterback-starved teams in the league if they would give up exactly what the Bears gave up to get Cutler to begin with right now." Read afjumpfan23's full post.
- Vote: Pick 'Em | Vs. spread | Bengals-Steelers | Patriots-Colts
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SportsNation would rather have Peyton Manning than Tom Brady dating their sister, but the roles are reversed if a wingman is called for. Maybe it's time to have the quarterback beauty contest settled on the field.
In the other big rivalry game of the week (no, not Chiefs-Raiders), Chad Ochocinco is winning the PR war (and food fight) for the Bengals, but fans favor the Steelers.
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Cowboys-Eagles | Ravens-Bengals | Steelers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterbacks | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Jets LB Bart Scott | "First Take" analyst Drew Bennett | Len Pasquarelli
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
What does Tony Romo have to do to catch a break? Wait, poor choice of words. Romo should be breathing easy these days. Criticized heavily during the Cowboys' slow start -- he had slipped all the way to No. 17 in SportsNation's quarterback rankings as recently as Oct. 12 -- Romo bounced back with three great games in a row. By Monday, he was back up to the cusp of the top 10 at the position in SportsNation's eyes. Enter Roy Williams, who managed the seemingly impossible feat of handing a popularity contest to Terrell Owens.
SportsNation says Romo isn't a leader, but one blogger is ready to follow him to a win against the Eagles.
- "I will believe, for now, that 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the last 3 games is not coincidence or a streak. I will believe that the stench of the T.O. signing and leaving has finally left us. Romo is reaching more receivers -- to include the backs. Romo is tucking and running more than I've probably ever seen him do, and I'll take that & Just don't get hurt & Because our back-up QB is [Jon] Kitna. Why is all of this happening? Because T.O. is not crying for the ball. Because the show that is T.O. is not the looming and ominous cloud hanging over Romo anymore." Read MoAz2213's full post.
- Vote: Pick winners | Against spread | Vikings-Packers | Broncos-Ravens | Vince Young
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterback class of 2005 | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
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- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Former Packers FB William Henderson | ESPN Boston's Tedy Bruschi
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
Hidden beneath the layers of Shakespearean drama involved in Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field to face the boos and settle scores with Ted Thompson, there's a reasonably important division game on tap Sunday in Green Bay. With the Bears skidding and the Lions, well, still the Lions, the Vikings could put the kind of distance normally reserved for month-old Limburger between themselves and the Cheeseheads. SportsNation is picking the visitors to get it done, and one blogger thinks this could be the beginning of the end.
- "The Packers are above average on both sides of the ball. They are a solid team. The defense is giving up only 16 PPG, and only 96 total this season. They're in the top ten in most offensive and defensive categories. Their only losses? Cincinnati and Minnesota. Sounds legit right? Unfortunately not. 3 of 4 wins have come against bottom tier opponents and based on the look of the rest of the schedule, which consists of Minnesota again this week, Dallas, San Francisco, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, another trip to Chicago, and Arizona, doesn't look good. Final Prediction: 7-9 Verdict: Pretender " Read Feldman9000's full post.
It only took a couple of wins for fans like MSJC36 to accept Josh McDaniels. The other fan bloggers (if you ignore the Broncos' true rivals) are grudgingly coming around, too.
On the spectrum opposite the undefeated, 0-5 despair translated to draft dreams.
Rush Limbaugh's role in a bid for the Rams drew spirited response (click through below if you think there's still something to add to this debate), Terrell Owens trade rumors involved multiple teams and the UFL even got a cursory look from fans.
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 6 predictions: Jbreaux2 | Feldman9000
“Break up the Broncos. Who would have thought that Josh McDaniels would have the Denver Broncos with a 5-0 record? With all the offseason and preseason drama, it seemed at first that McDaniels was doing a good job at alienating his team.
” -- Goldbrick4
“Don't come in here with your 'we're 5-0, WHHEEEEE, WHHHHOOOOO" record trying to impress. You're 5-0. Good job. The season is still early.
” -- Jack London220
“I understand that Tennessee is 0-5, but putting in Vince Young at this point is more than just hitting the panic button; it's the equivalent of initiating a self-destruct sequence.
” -- afjumpman23
“Of all the undefeated teams, if the Bears were forced to play one of them, I'd hate for them to play the Colts right now. That team is almost impossible to stop.
” -- The Mini Ditkas
Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd aren't above wearing throwback unis (see the maroon blazer) on "SportsNation" TV.
Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.
Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).
Is Saturday's game a must-win for coach Charlie Weis to keep this job?
The Irish are 4-1, but a loss to the USC Trojans could end the team's BCS hopes and increase pressure on Weis.
Which is a better summary of the Jets-Dolphins game?
Did the New York defense lose the game or did the Miami Wildcat offense win the Monday Night Football game?
Should the Bears try to get Terrell Owens?
The Bills are going nowhere, and the star they picked up in the offseason has only 12 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown.
What do you make of the Jets losing two straight after starting 3-0?
Rex Ryan apologized for his coaching and the defense after the loss. Is this the beginning of the end or just a road bump for a new staff?
Which LCS series is more interesting?
Are you more interested in the American League Angels-Yankees games or the National League Dodgers-Phillies games?
What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.
- Your Power Rankings: Are there any AFC East teams in your top 10 this week?
- Vote: Get an early start picking Week 6 games, including the Giants at the Saints.
- Chat: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson talks to SportsNation, 12:15 ET.
It's not that the Dolphins didn't have a passing game in Monday's win against the Jets. Chad Henne completed 20 passes and put balls where even Ted Ginn Jr. couldn't drop them. Heck, Ronnie Brown had half as many completions as the Browns' Derek Anderson did Sunday. But it's not images of Chad Henne that are casting doubts on SportsNation's contention last week that the Jets were the eighth-best team in the league. (Even if 77 percent of SportsNation is convinced Henne is the guy the Dolphins can build around).
No, Monday's lasting image was Rex Ryan's vaunted defense getting pushed around, specifically by Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and the Wildcat offense.
So what's a more miserable way to spend three hours watching football -- knowing there's nothing your defense can do to stop a guy like Peyton Manning from picking you apart through the air or watching Brown and Williams (or Adrian Peterson -- did we mention he's chatting today at 12:15 ET?) churn up yards and clock?
Despite the quarterback mystery, quarterback changes, wide receiver moves and lack of wins, there are still Browns fans. GoBrowns29 and our bloggers provide the evidence.
Like fans of the Chiefs, Titans, Panthers, Rams and Buccaneers, they're not happy, but they still love their team (just not the coach, players, GM, owner or other scapegoat).
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 5 predictions: Venture99 | phyhtheaux | brijay103099
Week 17 predictions: AniD89
“And both axles just broke off of Derek Anderson's bandwagon because the population on it increased by 800 percent.
” -- flight23_14
“At this point I can't help but wonder if there are any of the teams left on the schedule that the Buccaneers can actually beat.
” -- BucsgirlDK
“Then it hit me, like the Jerry Jones scoreboard crashing down on top of me. We (the Chiefs) have become the Raiders.
” -- Sports Page Network
“The Browns have scored 49 points and they have ONLY been outscored by 69 points, while the Rams have been outscored by, a humiliating, 84 points. Wow.
” -- Godlike_82
Saints fans like Lcsolja are in a mood so expansive after their Breesy start they could wrap their arms around the Superdome.
These are our favorite photos uploaded this week. If any of the images make you want to put on headgear and charge the field, click to view a larger picture and to comment. If you have a great picture or saw one you think the world should see, leave a brief description and a link in the Conversation section below.
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to a post about your favorite team.
Week 4 predictions: phyhtheaux | Feldman9000 | JayBird 67 | codywin25
“Anyone looking to join the purple bandwagon, sorry no vacancies. The Ravens are for real this year and will not be a THIRD PLACE finisher.
” -- brijay103099
“If you combined the best players of the Browns, Rams, Chiefs and Bucs, you still may not have a team that can contend with the Giants or Ravens. What a sorry mess those 0-3 teams are in.
” -- JDye_espn
“Before too long, and assuming his coach doesn't accidentally eat him, the Mark Sanchez Smoldering Dreaminess is going to overtake the Tom Brady Dimple Dreamtime in national appeal.
” -- Necessary Roghness
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SPORTSNATION GRIDIRON CENTRAL
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- NFL Coach Ratings
- Week 11: Wade Phillips at 29 percent after win
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- NFL Pick 'Em Week 12 (Tue.)
- SN last week: 9-6
SN this season: 99-45
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- Colts return to No. 1
Jets down to No. 21
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No. 1 Drew Brees
No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger
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- College Football Fan Top 25
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LSU drops to No. 16
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- College Football Pick' Em
- SN last week: 17-3
SN this season: 204-41
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No. 2: Toby Gerhart
No. 4: C.J. Spiller
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