Daniel or Eli? I believe that Jones is the future, and that Manning should play out the string, but the team disagrees.
With the playoffs just around the corner, there’s plenty of things to talk about with regards to playoff spots and playoff seeding. Add to that, the mounting debate over year-end individual awards, and there’s lots to talk about at this time of the year.
For my money, though, the big story this week, one that absolutely should not be overlooked, is the crazy situation in Jacksonville. If, like me, you’ve wondered why the Jags have sucked such copious amounts of ass the past two seasons after a deep playoff run in 2017, then this week’s revelations about crazy coot Tom Coughlin and the Jags organization’s treatment of players definitely sheds some light on things:
“25% of the grievances filed by players in the entire league have been filed against the Jaguars.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2019
Wow. https://t.co/xnqxN7ArnA
Now, I don’t like to go crazy with numbers, but I think it bears mentioning that one team having 25% of the grievances filed against it means that the other 31 teams' average would be less than 2.5%. In other words, Jacksonville players file grievances more than ten times more frequently than the average for all the other teams in the league. That’s nuts.
Although the name of the “$700,000 player” was not mentioned, former Jag Dante Fowler subsequently outed himself on Twitter:
They literally hated me . I got it all back though! Thanks to the NFLPA https://t.co/vUIg5tsKvr
— Dante fowler (@dantefowler) December 16, 2019
(YAY UNIONS!)
It will be interesting to see what sanctions, if any, the Jacksonville organization and Coughlin will face. The league is quick to jump on players for any and all infractions, whether they be on or off the field. What Jacksonville did to Fowler and others is reprehensible, and should not be swept under the rug. Both Jacksonville and Coughlin should be punished severely.
Winners in Bold:
Sunday
Cincinnati at Miami
There’s not really anything at stake here, as Cincy has a two-game cushion for the number one draft slot next year. Cincy’s defensive front will be the difference in this one.
Pittsburgh at NYJ
Pittsburgh can’t afford a letdown, lest Tennessee slide by them for the last Wild Card spot, so I expect a big effort from them. Still, I’m hoping for a bunch of Pittsburgh turnovers, or whatever else it takes for there to be an upset here.
NYG at Washington
There’s nothing at stake here, though I would like to go on record as being opposed to going back to Daniel Jones as starting QB. Not because he’s not good enough, but just the opposite. I think Jones has proven that he belongs in the league, and I believe he has a bright future, so Big Blue should shut him down for the season and let Eli play out the string.
Carolina at Indianapolis
Another guy who should be shut down for the season is Jacoby Brissett. He’s played really well this season, but hasn’t looked the same since he injured his knee. Indy needs to start thinking about next season.
Baltimore at Cleveland
Baltimore gets revenge, moves closer to the top seed in the AFC.
Jacksonville at Atlanta
Atlanta’s players have been playing hard of late, showing how much they want to keep Dan Quinn as their coach. With crazy old coot Tom Coughlin gone, will Jacksonville’s players play hard for Doug Marrone? I’m betting no.
New Orleans at Tennessee
This is one of the best matchups of the week, featuring two teams with a lot at stake. New Orleans clinched their division weeks ago, but are still in play for a top-two seed and a first-round bye. Tennessee needs to win to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the Wild Card race. I’d love to see Tennessee grind one out here, and they can do it if they can sustain drives and put the clamps on Michael Thomas.
Oakland at LAC
I like Anthony Lynn. With nothing left to play for, we’ll see over these final two games if his players like him.
Detroit at Denver
Nothing much worth seeing here.
Arizona at Seattle
Seattle is closing in on the top seed in the NFC, and can ill afford a letdown.
Dallas at Philadelphia
Dallas is the better team. Philadelphia has been mediocre at best of late. All signs point to a Dallas victory, which would secure them the NFC East, and that’s why I think they’ll lose.
Sunday Night
KC at Chicago
This will be a classic matchup of two titanically-talented young QBs, and I’m super-excited to see how I’m just kidding Trubisky sucks.
Monday Night
Green Bay at Minnesota
In the past, Minnesota has come up small in big games like this that they should win. And make no mistake, they should win this one. They’ve shown signs of late that they’ve shed their tendency to shrink from the spotlight. Green Bay will give them all they can handle, though, and this should be a great game, one that will have a tremendous effect on the playoff picture in the NFC.
It will be interesting to see what sanctions, if any, the Jacksonville organization and Coughlin will face. The league is quick to jump on players for any and all infractions, whether they be on or off the field. What Jacksonville did to Fowler and others is reprehensible, and should not be swept under the rug. Both Jacksonville and Coughlin should be punished severely.
Winners in Bold:
Sunday
Cincinnati at Miami
There’s not really anything at stake here, as Cincy has a two-game cushion for the number one draft slot next year. Cincy’s defensive front will be the difference in this one.
Pittsburgh at NYJ
Pittsburgh can’t afford a letdown, lest Tennessee slide by them for the last Wild Card spot, so I expect a big effort from them. Still, I’m hoping for a bunch of Pittsburgh turnovers, or whatever else it takes for there to be an upset here.
NYG at Washington
There’s nothing at stake here, though I would like to go on record as being opposed to going back to Daniel Jones as starting QB. Not because he’s not good enough, but just the opposite. I think Jones has proven that he belongs in the league, and I believe he has a bright future, so Big Blue should shut him down for the season and let Eli play out the string.
Carolina at Indianapolis
Another guy who should be shut down for the season is Jacoby Brissett. He’s played really well this season, but hasn’t looked the same since he injured his knee. Indy needs to start thinking about next season.
Baltimore at Cleveland
Baltimore gets revenge, moves closer to the top seed in the AFC.
Jacksonville at Atlanta
Atlanta’s players have been playing hard of late, showing how much they want to keep Dan Quinn as their coach. With crazy old coot Tom Coughlin gone, will Jacksonville’s players play hard for Doug Marrone? I’m betting no.
New Orleans at Tennessee
This is one of the best matchups of the week, featuring two teams with a lot at stake. New Orleans clinched their division weeks ago, but are still in play for a top-two seed and a first-round bye. Tennessee needs to win to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the Wild Card race. I’d love to see Tennessee grind one out here, and they can do it if they can sustain drives and put the clamps on Michael Thomas.
Oakland at LAC
I like Anthony Lynn. With nothing left to play for, we’ll see over these final two games if his players like him.
Detroit at Denver
Nothing much worth seeing here.
Arizona at Seattle
Seattle is closing in on the top seed in the NFC, and can ill afford a letdown.
Dallas at Philadelphia
Dallas is the better team. Philadelphia has been mediocre at best of late. All signs point to a Dallas victory, which would secure them the NFC East, and that’s why I think they’ll lose.
Sunday Night
KC at Chicago
This will be a classic matchup of two titanically-talented young QBs, and I’m super-excited to see how I’m just kidding Trubisky sucks.
Monday Night
Green Bay at Minnesota
In the past, Minnesota has come up small in big games like this that they should win. And make no mistake, they should win this one. They’ve shown signs of late that they’ve shed their tendency to shrink from the spotlight. Green Bay will give them all they can handle, though, and this should be a great game, one that will have a tremendous effect on the playoff picture in the NFC.
RSS Feed
