My thoughts on Week 8 games


NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the news of the day, injuries from week 8, and previewed all week 8 games including the Browns/Cards.

Lions & Chiefs at London

DT Stafford has been a disaster. O line & run game are worse. Can they score?

D has been stressed by TOS on O.

KC Smith has been bad and Reid in on the hot seat. The DT D should help both.

The pass rush as disappeared D backfield is better w Berry but without a rush it suffers.

Bucs at Falcons

TB Winston has been up & down as has the run game.

Lovie has to get more Tampa 2 players. He has just a few now.

AT AT O has disappeared. It will be back against TB. Ryan has to get WR White back.

D has been much better this year. It will give Winston fits.

Chargers at Ravens

SD Rivers has a pass rating of 99.2. 15TDS 7X. O line & lack of run game have been big issues.

TE Gates is back but not yet FB condition. He must help a weak rec corps.

D has struggled. Injuries are … Read more at FryingPanSports

2014 NFL Draft Boom or Bust – First round Defensive players

NFL Draft (2)

1st Texans Jadeveon Clowney DE – With his physical ability Clowney should become a beast even at weakside linebacker. Forget about the work ethic noise, he will be a Big big Boom.

6th Raiders Khalil Mack OLB – Given the free agency bonanza the Raiders got this off season, Mack won’t be the only quality pass rusher. He has all the tool and a motor that has no off switch. Big Boom

8th Browns Justin Gilbert CB – Gilbert is a top cover corner but don’t expect him to tackle much. Bust alert!

9th Vikings Anthony Barr OLB – Barr has been a LB for 2 years. He needs a lot of work and tends to be standing beside the pile not at the bottom of it. Bust

13th Rams Aaron Donald DT – Perfect 3 technique DT that will provide inside rush for the Rams. Big Boom.

14th Bears Kyle Fuller CB – Fuller is the best all around CB that will support the run and cover. Best in 2 deep zone. Boom.

15th Steelers Ryan Shazier LB – Has the speed to cover and very good instincts. Will likely start day Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 9

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NOTE:  Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

News:

By far the biggest news of the weekend was the Monday night injury to QB Aaron Rodgers.  The latest report indicates that he has a break in his collar bone.  Without Rodgers the Pack has little chance to make the playoffs.

 

Our thoughts go out to two NFL head coaches with health issues.  FPS staff wishes both John Fox and Gary Kubiak a fast complete recovery.  The job of an NFL coach is a 20 hour a day 52 week a year sentence.  Those that take the job understand the physical demands that come with it.  However, they do it for the love of the game.

 

Season ending injuries are way up this season.  If the trend continues this season will set an all … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 7

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NOTE:  Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

News:

Rams QB Sam Bradford suffered a torn ACL and will be lost for the season.  The only other QB on the team is Kellen Clemens so the team will need to find one.

 

Bears QB Jay Cutler left the game with a muscle tear in his groin.  Backup Josh McCown played well in his absence.  The injury to Cutler will keep him out for at least a month.  The Bears are thinking of signing QB Josh Palmer.  They also lost LB Lance Briggs.

 

Bengals top CB Leon Hall suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury.  If it is torn he would miss the rest of the season.

 

The Eagles lost QB Nick Foles to a groin injury but Mike Vick should be able to play … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 6

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Note:  Join us for the live version of NNR Mondays and Fridays on The Bill Smith Radio Show. The Monday show with co-host Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports reviews the NFL week and Browns game.  The Friday show includes Samantha and Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York and previews the weekend games.

 

News:

Texan QB Matt Schaub was hurt and could be out next week.  The team also lost SS Danieal Manning with a broken Fibula.  He will be out 6-8 weeks.

 

The Packers lost WRs James Jones and Randal Cobb with knee injuries.  They also lost LB Nick Perry with a broken foot.

 

Pats WR Danny Amendola suffered a concussion.  CB Aqib Talib hurt a hip and LB Jerod Mayo suffered a shoulder injury.

 

The Cowboys RB Demarco Murray hurt a knee and DE Demarcus Ware will miss several weeks with a quad injury.

 

The Vikings have lost LB Desmond Bishop for the season with a torn ACL.

 

The Bills signed former Raider QB Matt Flynn.

 

The Steelers have placed OT Levi Brown on IR.  The team traded for him on Oct. 2 and he never played a game for … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Browns’ 2013 season has just been “Bannered”

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While the cat is away the mice will play.  The cat is owner Jimmy Haslam.  He is away dealing with his own issues around the investigation by the Justice department into Flying J/Pilot.  The mice include both team president Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi.  The mice just stole the cheese and traded it to the Colts.

 

There are several things that stink like 10 year old limburger about this deal.  The Colts will likely end up with a record of 10 or 11 wins.  That severely dilutes the value of the first round pick the Browns got in exchange for RB Trent Richardson.  That means that the pick will be in the 20’s.

 

Before the 2012 draft the Browns tried to trade for QB Robert Griffin III with the fourth and 22nd picks overall but were rebuffed by the Rams.  Just because they have two first round picks does not guarantee they can trade up to get the best QB.  The first pick is most likely to go to Jacksonville who will not trade it because they need a QB worse than the Browns do.

 

Based on the Banner/Lombardi draft of 2013, there is little … Read more at FryingPanSports