You have to love the NFL.
No matter how hard they try to suppress all the negative stories, things just have a way of happening that makes Roger Goodell and the rest of the powers-that-be look like a bunch of shitheads.
Take Jameis Winston. I mentioned in an earlier column how the league cut a sweetheart deal with him, suspending him for three games instead of six in a hush-hush move. Well, I guess the Uber driver that he (allegedly) assaulted wasn't too happy about the league's not holding Winston to full account, as she has filed a lawsuit against Winston. In an extra added twist, she is represented by John Clune, the same lawyer who represented Erica Kinsman in her suit against Winston.
In other news, LeSean McCoy's former girlfriend, who has made some very disturbing accusations against the Buffalo RB, held a press conference this week about the investigation. The league is being criticized in many media circles due to its deafening silence on the matter.
And, in a lovely blast from the past, we had a heartwarming story about Ben Roethlisberger trying to follow in Donald Trump's mushroom-steps. Jokes aside, Roethlisberger has a history of questionable conduct with women, and was even suspended by the league (six games, reduced to four, such a Goodell move) for such.
As long as the NFL refuses to take these sorts of incidents seriously, the image of the league will continue to be tarnished, no matter how much it tries to deflect, ignore, and cover up.
Now then, on with the picks.
Winners in Bold:
Sunday
New Orleans at Atlanta
New Orleans is struggling, while Atlanta looked much more organized on offence in Week Two.
Green Bay at Washington
Washington is awful, and Green Bay isn't.
Indianapolis at Philadelphia
Carson Wentz is supposed to play this week, and if he does, he'll be without Alshon Jeffrey, Jay Ajayi, and Darren Sproles. Philly's defence had better put the clamps on Andrew Luck, or the champs could end up 1-2 after this one.
Buffalo at Minnesota
Buffalo might be the worst team in the league; Minnesota is one of the best, even with a couple of starters out.
Oakland at Miami
Miami has looked surprisingly good on both sides of the ball. Perhaps purging the team of assholes like Suh and Landry has helped.
Denver at Baltimore
Baltimore is just banged-up enough on defence that I could see Case Keenum stealing a win on the road.
Cincinnati at Carolina
I can see Cincy's defensve front giving Cam Newton fits, helping the visitors squeak out a close one.
NYG at Houston
Houston's good pass rush and secondary spells trouble for Eli. New York's best hope is if their defence can rise up, get their offence a few extra possessions and hopefully some good field position, and hope that Houston's defence tires.
Tennessee at Jacksonville
The only thing that does Jacksonville in here is if they suffer a letdown after their big win last week.
San Francisco at Kansas City
It'll be interesting to see if San Fran's defence can slow KC down at all. KC hasn't played much defence in the first two weeks. This could be a very entertaining, high-scoring affair.
LAC at LAR
The battle of LA. Philip Rivers and co. should be a good test for Wade Phillips's defence. I'd like the Bolts' chances a whole lot better with Joey Bosa in the lineup.
Dallas at Seattle
Dallas isn't great, but Seattle isn't good. Should be a crap game. Would not watch.
Chicago at Arizona
Arizona might be the worst team in the league; Chicago has one of the better defences.
Sunday Night
New England at Detroit
Detroit has looked mediocre thus far. Once again, as is the case every year, the running game has yet to materialize. New England is still in that early stages of the season mode where they're still figuring out what they have and how they're going to use it to, once again, make a deep playoff run. Much of the talk around New England concerns their acquisition of Josh Gordon. I wouldn't expect to see too much of Gordon right off, but if he could potentially be a huge threat in the passing game down the road.
Monday Night
Pittsburgh at Tampa
Pittsburgh is a team in turmoil. Their defence hasn't played very well. Tampa's offence is on fire.
Bonus Coverage
These are the games I'll be watching this week (plus whatever else I have time for):
SF/KC; LAC/LAR; NE/DET; PIT/TB
No matter how hard they try to suppress all the negative stories, things just have a way of happening that makes Roger Goodell and the rest of the powers-that-be look like a bunch of shitheads.
Take Jameis Winston. I mentioned in an earlier column how the league cut a sweetheart deal with him, suspending him for three games instead of six in a hush-hush move. Well, I guess the Uber driver that he (allegedly) assaulted wasn't too happy about the league's not holding Winston to full account, as she has filed a lawsuit against Winston. In an extra added twist, she is represented by John Clune, the same lawyer who represented Erica Kinsman in her suit against Winston.
In other news, LeSean McCoy's former girlfriend, who has made some very disturbing accusations against the Buffalo RB, held a press conference this week about the investigation. The league is being criticized in many media circles due to its deafening silence on the matter.
And, in a lovely blast from the past, we had a heartwarming story about Ben Roethlisberger trying to follow in Donald Trump's mushroom-steps. Jokes aside, Roethlisberger has a history of questionable conduct with women, and was even suspended by the league (six games, reduced to four, such a Goodell move) for such.
As long as the NFL refuses to take these sorts of incidents seriously, the image of the league will continue to be tarnished, no matter how much it tries to deflect, ignore, and cover up.
Now then, on with the picks.
Winners in Bold:
Sunday
New Orleans at Atlanta
New Orleans is struggling, while Atlanta looked much more organized on offence in Week Two.
Green Bay at Washington
Washington is awful, and Green Bay isn't.
Indianapolis at Philadelphia
Carson Wentz is supposed to play this week, and if he does, he'll be without Alshon Jeffrey, Jay Ajayi, and Darren Sproles. Philly's defence had better put the clamps on Andrew Luck, or the champs could end up 1-2 after this one.
Buffalo at Minnesota
Buffalo might be the worst team in the league; Minnesota is one of the best, even with a couple of starters out.
Oakland at Miami
Miami has looked surprisingly good on both sides of the ball. Perhaps purging the team of assholes like Suh and Landry has helped.
Denver at Baltimore
Baltimore is just banged-up enough on defence that I could see Case Keenum stealing a win on the road.
Cincinnati at Carolina
I can see Cincy's defensve front giving Cam Newton fits, helping the visitors squeak out a close one.
NYG at Houston
Houston's good pass rush and secondary spells trouble for Eli. New York's best hope is if their defence can rise up, get their offence a few extra possessions and hopefully some good field position, and hope that Houston's defence tires.
Tennessee at Jacksonville
The only thing that does Jacksonville in here is if they suffer a letdown after their big win last week.
San Francisco at Kansas City
It'll be interesting to see if San Fran's defence can slow KC down at all. KC hasn't played much defence in the first two weeks. This could be a very entertaining, high-scoring affair.
LAC at LAR
The battle of LA. Philip Rivers and co. should be a good test for Wade Phillips's defence. I'd like the Bolts' chances a whole lot better with Joey Bosa in the lineup.
Dallas at Seattle
Dallas isn't great, but Seattle isn't good. Should be a crap game. Would not watch.
Chicago at Arizona
Arizona might be the worst team in the league; Chicago has one of the better defences.
Sunday Night
New England at Detroit
Detroit has looked mediocre thus far. Once again, as is the case every year, the running game has yet to materialize. New England is still in that early stages of the season mode where they're still figuring out what they have and how they're going to use it to, once again, make a deep playoff run. Much of the talk around New England concerns their acquisition of Josh Gordon. I wouldn't expect to see too much of Gordon right off, but if he could potentially be a huge threat in the passing game down the road.
Monday Night
Pittsburgh at Tampa
Pittsburgh is a team in turmoil. Their defence hasn't played very well. Tampa's offence is on fire.
Bonus Coverage
These are the games I'll be watching this week (plus whatever else I have time for):
SF/KC; LAC/LAR; NE/DET; PIT/TB
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