Showcase Showdown

Who is the best QB in the NFL?

by Eric Berkenpas, Caleb Musselman & Ryan Frisco

One of those most opinionated and ambiguous arguments of all time has finally landed in our laps. Many factors go into determining who the best Quarterback in the league is. Some QBs have cannons for arms, some could keep pace with Usain Bolt and some could hit the bullseye on a 100mph train. There are so many different types of QBs who find success in drastically different ways but we, the writers at Sports Eye View, think we know the answer to the age old question. Let's begin.

Photo Cred www.dholmes.com

Eric - It took me all of about 1 second to determine who is hands down, without a doubt, the best QB in the league: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. Where do I even start? Since claiming the starting position in 2001 after Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady has enjoyed winning seasons every year and has only missed the playoffs twice. The other year, he sat out with a torn ACL. He has played in 5 Super Bowls, which is tied for the most all time, and won 3 of them, which is tied for second all time. He has the best all time winning percentage of any QB in the regular season and has the most playoff wins all time (please note how many times I have to say "all time"). He is second best among current QBs (behind Peyton Manning) when it comes to come from behind wins with 44 game winning drives, 7 of which were in the playoffs which, once again, is the most all time. I really shouldn't have to say anything more so I will let someone else try to match up to that.

Photo Cred www.cbssports.com

Caleb - In my opinion, this is currently the most difficult question in all of sports. If the question was "Who has been the most clutch QB in the past 10 years?" the award would go to Tom Brady. If the question was "Who is the QB who does the most with the least amount of talent?" that award would also have to go to Brady this year. Now the tense of this question is vital toward answering the question correctly. Who IS the best QB in the NFL? Right at this very moment, only a fool wouldn't pick Peyton Manning. Tom Brady has 14 TDs and 7 interceptions this year coupled with his lowest completion percentage since he's been a starter (58%). Peyton has over 1,000 more yards than Brady, 20 more TDs than Brady and a 69.8% completion percentage. Does Peyton have better offensive weapons? Without a doubt. But to say a QB who is currently breaking records each and every week is not the best in the league is just plain silly. Peyton may not be around much longer, but he is now proving that he IS the best QB in the league. And now for a crazy argument from Ryan Frisco...

Photo Cred www.ign.com

Ryan - Hmmm, I don't know about crazy...but I will say unorthodox.  Yes, I picked the Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl this year, and Yes, I'm taking Russell Wilson as the best CURRENT quarterback in the league.  Thank you for clarifying the tense there Caleb.  Tom Brady does have a very good record this year...but he's been beating the likes of Geno Smith, E.J. Manuel and Ryan Tannehill, while looking less then lackluster.  Caleb, Peyton Manning is on his way to breaking records...but a QB's success as far as records go is based just as much on his incredible offensive weapons as it is his talent.  Most starting quarterbacks would do almost what Manning is doing if they had the same talent around them.  Now, to my argument as naming Russell Wilson the best current QB?  It is a bit crazy, a little farfetched and I don't expect a single reader to agree with me.  Most base his success on the Seattle defense, which is incredible.  Others give Marshawn Lynch the credit, which much is due.  But a great QB is measured in other ways too...like leadership.  Wilson was a third round pick out of the draft.  He faced a ton of criticism off the bat about his height...and overcame it by winning the starting job in his rookie season, against a much hyped Matt Flynn.  He then took a team of veterans, and rallied them on to an improbable 11-5 playoff season.  This year, he looks primed for 14-2, starting his career 25-7.  If you measure on Leadership, and Will to Win, this kid's got it.

Photo Cred www.usmagazine.com

Eric - Leadership and Will to Win? You can't say those two things in the context of NFL QBs without Tom Brady's name coming immediately to mind. Have you ever seen Brady at the end of a close contest or especially at the end of a few and far between loss? Will to Win doesn't even begin to touch the surface of his intensity. Year in and year out Brady is given a new crew of young, inexperienced no-names and each year, he displays his incredible leadership ability by rallying them all together under his ingenious offensive scheme. That is as much argument as Wilson is worthy of when attempting to compare him to Brady. He has been quite the story so far, but has hardly compiled enough games and experiences to make a credible argument. Now on to the tougher argument...Peyton is indeed having a heck of a year. He also has arguably the greatest receiving core of all time at his disposal, as well as a dynamic and incredibly effective running game. Brady has neither and is still winning, and just so happened to beat Manning head to head while also out-performing him. Sometimes record breaking individual offensive stats like TD-Int ratio or passing yards don't mean anything when they don't translate into wins when they matter. Brady is a winner, plain and simple. He has proven this all throughout his illustrious career and is proving it more than ever this year by leading his rag-tag bunch of inexperienced kids to an impressive 8-3 record. No other QB can compare to that. Manning has never dealt with any of that and has always been protected by an all-star offensive line and, up until last year, a pretty dome to protect him from inclement weather.

Photo Cred www.deweydigest.com

Caleb - Put Russell Wilson on the Steelers and he is .500. Put him on the Bucs and he is .500. Sometimes the best way to measure a quarterback's effectiveness is to envision him on another squad. How would Russell Wilson do on another team? He has the best defense in the league and a top 5 running game. He only throws the ball about 20 times a game! Put Wilson on another team and he is good but not great. Don't get me wrong, Wilson is a very good player and a fantastic leader, but putting him in the same conversation as Manning and Brady is downright cruel. Good quarterbacks make average players great. Look at Eric Decker's stats. Look at Knowshon-freaking-Moreno's stats. How good was he before Peyton came into the picture? Now look back at Wilson. How is Sydney Rice doing this year? How about Golden Tate? Both of them are hardly WR3's this year! Wilson will have a great career but I can guarantee he will stay in Seattle a few more years as he gets better while his defense scores points. Peyton and Brady are just different. What Brady has done this year is pretty incredible. However, put these two squads together three times in one season and I would put my money on Manning winning two out of three. In their head-to-head matchup, while having easily the worst game of his season, Manning still managed 2 TDs. Brady has put up astronomical numbers with just above average offensive weapons his entire career. His numbers this season suggest he is still fantastic but Manning takes the cake as this season's best QB.

Photo Cred www.thepenaltyflag.com

Ryan - Yes, I know, and expected this criticism.  But, in reading the Professional Sports Writers stories the past two weeks, I realize I am not alone!! Halfway through the season, the MVP award obviously was going to Peyton Manning.  Now, there appears to be someone else creeping into the picture...and no, it's not Sir Nick Foles...it's Russell Wilson!  Ha, take that! Wilson doesn't run a shock and awe type of offense.  He isn't out there to turn everyone else into Super Stars, like Manning and Brady do.  He's there to manage the game, and most importantly, WIN the game. And that's what he does.  So he doesn't turn Sidney Rice into Megatron?  Golden Tate isn't getting you a million fantasy points? You're comparing this to Fantasy Football rankings....this is real life NFL football here!!! It's not about the stats.  It's not about how many points you score, or who wants you on their fantasy team.  It's about
winning.  That's it.  Russell Wilson wins games. The NFL's best QB.  End of story.

Photo Cred www.nydailynews.com

Eric - Alright so the title of best QB goes to the QB who wins? Let's roll with this. Brady is 23-8 since Wilson joined the league and Manning is 25-6. Both records are equal or better than Wilson. Was Ben Roethlisberger the best QB in the league when he led the Steelers to 13 straight victories in 2004? Not a chance. I could come up with other examples of QBs who simply won games but would never have been considered as the best QB. Just because someone wins, it doesn't make them the best. The Steelers went 15-1 that season due in large part to their defense and running game. Same exact story rings true for the Seahawks this year. They have the best defense in the game and one of the best running games. Wilson doesn't even have to do anything and the Seahawks would be in the playoffs. I'm not going to reiterate all of Brady's stats that I listed above but there is no question that this crown belongs to either him or Manning, and I don't think there is any conclusive evidence for either one...but it's definitely one of them. I think Brady is better mostly because of how much he accomplishes with what little talent he is given but Manning has astronomical numbers that make it hard to deny he is the best. Either way, Wilson does not yet deserve to be talked about in the company of Brady and Manning and may well never be deserving of that.

Photo Cred www.totalprosports.com

Caleb - So...Manning just broke the single season TD record and needs just 250 yards in Week 17 to break the record for most yards in a season. He is 37 years old. As this season goes on, this argument becomes less and less necessary. It's like arguing which mountain is the highest in the world. There are some mountains that are, in fact, taller from base to peak than Mount Everest because of their relation to sea level. However, does that make them more majestic than Everest? No doubt, Peyton has better weapons than Brady and Wilson. No doubt, Brady does more with less than anyone in the league. No doubt, Wilson is an unbelievable leader and could be the best locker room leader and game manager in the league (in a year or two). However, these qualifications do not answer the question which has been posed. These giants are like Mt. McKinley or Kilimanjaro; majestic in their own right but paling in comparison to the greatest of them all when placed side by side. Peyton Manning IS the best quarterback in the NFL. "Here I stand. I can do no other."

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

Ryan - Okay okay, yes if you're going on stats alone, Brady and Manning would take the crown.  The thing is, I view the picture differently.  The Patriots and Broncos don't just beat teams when they are better, they blow them out.  They run up the score.  There was no need for Manning to throw 7 touchdowns against the Ravens in Week 1, and no reason for Tom Brady to continue scoring this past week against Baltimore.  These statistics are exponential now because they continue to beat a team while their down and out, not near the competition they should be.  The Seahawks and Russell Wilson are different.  They take the humble approach to the game, and work to run the clock out rather then score score score when they're already up.  I know my argument is the unlikely, unattractive one, but I stand by my statement.  Being the best quarterback is not about what records you break with the weapons you have.  It's about being able to lead a team in the most unlikely of circumstances.  Russell Wilson was not supposed to start in the NFL, but he came out, won the job, and hasn't stopped winning since.  A second year quarterback has the entire team, coaching staff and city behind him, and is primed for a Super Bowl run.  And that's without the likes of DT, Welker, Decker, Gronkowski, Moreno, Edelman, Amendola and more.  You judge how you want to, I'll judge how I see fit.  This kid is the best at his position now, and will be for years to come.

Well, I think that didn't get too intense.  Now, you be the judge!

Caleb's Dream Journal

Minneso-stupid and the Phantom Elite QB
By Caleb Musselman

photo cred: www.chicagonow.com

In a league where the term "elite quarterback" is thrown around as often as Schaub pick-sixes, every team is seeking their franchise QB. Matt Flynn has been passed around the league like a pokemon card and Brady Quinn is now taking over Kurt Warner's job at the local grocery store. Why is this quarterback shuffle so prevalent in today's game? Why are all these teams so desperate to find a QB who is supposed to suddenly revitalize their franchise? Is that real life? 

Let's shift our eyes to the biggest travesty of them all in Minneapolis for a moment. Careful. Like looking at the sun, this sight might blind your eyes. The first three weeks of the season showed the Viking faithful that this year would be a far cry from last year's playoff run. Even with the always dynamic Adrian Peterson in the backfield (90 yards and 2 TD's), the Lions handled the Vikes 34-24 in Detroit in Week 1. But did we expect any different? Week 2 carried the below-average Vikings INTO Chicago to play a very difficult Bears team. AP was good (but no TDs), Ponder was Ponder and the Bears squeaked out a win at home. Overall, a good result for a Vikings team that lost their 2nd most dynamic player in the off-season. How often do teams win when their best player doesn't score? Week 3 brought Cleveland's local JV squad into town. Crippled by an injured QB and suddenly no Trent Richardson, the Hoyer-led Browns were projected to beat out the Jags for the worst record in the league. They stumbled into Minnesota and....beat the Vikings? Ponder broke a rib and it turns out Hoyer is in the NFL for a reason. As my dad always says, "He must be good if he's in the NFL." Them's are fighting words. 

Photo Cred: www.cbssports.com

Ponder's grade over those 3 games? I'd give him a B-. He kept his average team in 2 games that they had no business being in, and fought through a broken rib to keep his team in the game against a hyped up Cleveland squad with something to prove. Fast-forward to Week 4, Ponder is out and the Vikings give Matt Cassel a shot against the Steelers in England. Cassel, the golden boy, Tom Brady back-up who got a big paycheck off of his practice performance in New England. Cassel enters the scene against a Steelers team who is desperately in need of a win. How does he respond? He has a solid, Alex Smith-esque day on the field with 250 yards, 2 TDs and ZERO picks as the Vikings down the Steelers in England. Maybe we are on to something here. Maybe this kid can play. Week 5 brought a solid Carolina team to Minnesota and despite Cassel going 32-44 from the field, the offense struggled and Carolina stomped the Vikings at home.

photo cred: sports.espn.go.com

So here's when things get a little cray cray. A couple hundred miles away in Tampa, things have gone awry.
The physical specimen, Josh Freeman, has taken a Buccaneers team from a once promising position to a 2012 flop and a 2013 defeated abomination. After a downright miserable first 4 games, Freeman was benched by Greg Schiano. This move took a relationship that was on the rocks and put it in the meat grinder. It was clear Freeman's days in Tampa were over. Let's head back to Minnesota. The Vikings sit at 1-4 and are seeking to find a legitimate starter to turn their season around. ENTER FREEMAN.

Bench the QB who was a solid facilitator in the midst of a 10-6 run to the playoffs in 2012. Bench the QB who put up good numbers and got you your only win of the season. AND BRING IN THE BELL OF THE BALL.

Ok, fine. Bring him in. Give him a few weeks to learn the playbook and give him a shot to prove himself. Or bring him in, give him 4 days on the practice field and throw him to the dogs. I think the WNBA playoffs had better TV ratings than the Vikings/Giants game, but if you happened to accidentally watch a glimpse of the game, it was arguably one of the most embarrassing QB performances since Joe Webb (who is now a WR3 for this same Minny team). Freeman went 20-53 for 190 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception. If you throw over 50 times, either your yards, TDs or interceptions should be high. What does his stat line tell us? He was so bad even the other team couldn't catch the ball. The guy in the first row in the back of the end zone had more targets than Greg Jennings.

photo cred: www.vikesprincess.net

Before this week, the Vikings and Steelers had the same 1-4 record. However, Leslie Frazier and Mike Tomlin took very different approaches to their Week 7 games. Tomlin approached their matchup against the rival Ravens as any normal professional would: a must win. On the contrary, Frazier approached his matchup against the WINLESS Giants as a tryout for a player who already proved his worth(lessness) in Tampa Bay. Further, he completely disrespected his playoff (loose term) quarterback, his above average backup and most importantly, the best running back in the league. If you have Adrian Peterson on your team, what are you doing throwing 53 times with a quarterback who doesn't know the playbook?

Answer: You are giving up. You are mailing it in. In a desperate attempt to hit the lottery and bring Freeman in to save your season, you are showing each player on your team that you don't have any respect for them. If your #1 receiver is Greg Jennings, what do you expect your facilitating QBs to do? If one of your top 3 receivers is a former QB, how do you expect ANYONE to be successful under center?

photo cred: nfl.si.com

A franchise quarterback is not created through magic. A special QB like Brady, Manning and Rodgers is formed through talent, consistency and most importantly confidence that they gain through respect from their coaching staff and their organization. Expect Minnesota to win 3 games this year. Expect Cassel to be gone next year. Expect AP to play til he is 30 and retire just like Barry Sanders. And finally, expect Frazier to be gone next year.

There is no winning formula at QB for Minnesota. However, the least they could do is reward Ponder for his playoff caliber 2012 by giving him the ball under center week in and week out. He is playing this week, but not because they want him to. Freeman has a concussion and Ponder will take the field. A absolute embarrassment for Minnesota comes full circle as the correct quarterback finds himself back in the game on Sunday. Frazier should be ashamed and soon he will be out of a job. 

4th and Long

Some Things Make Sense...Others Don't

By Ryan Frisco

The NFL season is 6 weeks old, and I think it's time to talk about what we've seen so far.

Photo Cred www.foxnews.com

The Sensible: The Denver Broncos are 6-0...surprise surprise *yawn*.  Peyton Manning is on a ridiculous tear, poised to break all kinds of records.  Are they going to keep this pace up?  No, obviously not. But, there's no denying this offense, with all of their weapons, is amazing!  The Raven's aren't going to be there in the playoffs to pull off a magical run over Denver like they did last year. The road is paved for the Broncos to the Super Bowl, with the greatest competition coming from the Cincinnati Bengals...yes, Denver will be representing the AFC, barring injuries to Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno.

Photo Cred www.zimbio.com

The Senseless: There is one other undefeated team in the NFL.  Do you know who they are? They are actually also in the AFC...actually, they're also in the AFC South.  Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs, arch rivals of the Denver Broncos, are also 6-0 this far into the season.  New coach (Andy Reid), new QB (Alex Smith), new era in KC.  This team had two wins total last year!  Big Red has come in and transformed a franchise in the dumps into a valid contender for the playoffs...Yes I said playoffs, not Super Bowl.  As good as the Chiefs are, they are still no match for the Broncos.  Argue all you want, the first time these two meet this year, you'll see just how far this team still needs to go.

Now, after week 7 will these teams still be undefeated?

Odds are yes, but each team actually has a formidable opponent to contend with.  Denver plays the Colts in Manning's first trip back to Indy since being released two years ago.  The Colts have knocked off two of the NFC's best in San Francisco and Seattle.  This could go down as one for the ages...but I'm choosing Denver 31-21.

Kansas City gets to take on the Houson Texans.  Houston is a good team, but you never know what team you're going to get...the team that came back week one against the Chargers to win a thriller, or the team that got PUMMELED by the St. Louis Rams in week six. KC wins big 35-17.

Now I feel like these picks are pretty valid, but I think I'm more choosing both teams to win to build the drama going into week 11, when Denver and KC meet for the first time on the season.  How cool would it be if both teams were still undefeated at that meeting?! My, how much that game would be built up.  I, for one, and rooting for that!

Photo Cred www.sports-odds.com

It's still a mystery to me how the Chiefs made such a quick turnaround.  I spent 14 years watching Andy Reid coach, and as much as I loved and supported him, I can't say he's any Bill Belichek caliber coach.  He inherited a great defense from Jim Johnson and a top draft pick to nab McNabb.  In KC, it appears to be more of the same, as the defense is already highly established, he picked up the #1 draft pick and brought in a fantastic game managing QB.  As well as he's doing, I'm still happy as an Eagles fan to be rid of him (no offense Andy).  As a tribute to Big Red, I'll let you watch this AMAZING video Casey Conklin put together in his honor :)

Final Fantasy

Bias ALWAYS Trumps Objectivity

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.philly.com

So after last week's cover-your-eyes trouncing the Denver Broncos gave the Philadelphia Eagles, I have made a new rule for myself; never, EVER, try to be completely objective and predict the outcome of one of my favorite teams again.  I was amazingly incorrect on my prediction of that game.  No matter how unbiased I felt I was with my prediction, I was unprofessionally way too optimistic with it.  Everybody new the Eagles would be slaughtered.

Just make a note of that, there will be no more predictions about the Eagles ever again...unless they make the Super Bowl!  Yes, you can laugh, that was a joke.

On to Fantasy Football...my team continues to win!  Matt Ryan has consistently put up over 20 points per week, Matt Forte has been a beast in the running game and Josh Gordon has proven worth the draft and stash while he was suspended, scoring over 40 points in his first three games.  Thursday night football was between the Browns and the Bills...and I had two guys starting.  I know, I'm crazy right?

Photo Cred www.greenwichtimes.com

Two weeks ago, I picked up Fred Jackson off waivers.  Why someone dropped him I'll never know, but he has yet to score below 10 points in a game.  With his two TDs and 110 yards Thursday, along with Josh Gordon's 15 points, I'm sitting with over 35 points going into Sunday!!  Fantasy football makes even a game between the Browns and Bills fun to watch.

On to Fantasy predictions, don't worry I'll make it quick this week.

QB: Start Alex Smith.  For some reason, he is flourishing with Andy Reid and the Chiefs.  They are 4-0, and Smith is 7TH in overall QB fantasy scoring.  He's got a favorable matchup with the Titans today.  He's probably available in most leagues too, I know he's still on the waiver wire in my league.

RB: DeAngelo Williams.  Through three games, Williams has has averaged 100 all purpose yards per game.  It's only a matter of time before he finds the end zone.

WR: Jordy Nelson.  Once again, Nelson has proven to be Aaron Rodgers' favorite target, especially in the red zone.  In a game that will be a shootout with Detroit, expect big things from Jordy.

Photo Cred www.sportingnews.com

The biggest game of the week today is easily the game between the Colts and Seahawks aka Andrew Luck vs. Russell Wilson.  These two QBs came in last year and revolutionized the game, along with RGIII.  With both teams well on their way to another playoff appearance, this game may be one for the ages.  I'm thinking this game will come down to a defensive battle with the ground game prevailing.  Two huge, bruising running backs, Marshawn Lynch and Trent Richardson, will lead the offenses.  The Seahawks will learn the truth that only the 1972 Dolphins can win them all when they fall to Luck and the Colts 20-17 this afternoon.

Final Fantasy

The Pressure is Off

By Ryan Frisco

Well, I can finally breathe again!  My fantasy team finally lost a week, so the quest for perfection is over.  It's time to work the Waiver Wire and build a team that can make it through the nitty gritty of the season and carry me to the playoffs! 

First things first, I need to figure out what to do on defense. I took the route of not choosing a defense until the last round of the draft, and am paying for it now.  I pick up a different defense each week based off of the matchup, but stats like the Buffalo Bills D 4 points against the New York Jets last week won't win me any games.  Any suggestions for me?

Photo Cred www.sportsbusinessdaily.com

I'm in five leagues, but really only care about four anymore.  This one guy I've never met invited me to a Dynasty League, where you keep the bulk of your team from year to year.  I missed that draft...in a 16 Team league...needless to say, my chances the next 10 years are most likely shot.

So, the beginning of Week 4 is only one day away!  Let's take a look at what to expect fantasy wise this first week of Byes...

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning is a no brainer this week.  He is playing the Philadelphia Eagles defense...the same defense that let up four touchdowns and a million yards to Phillip Rivers.  It's amazing that Manning is still relevant in the fantasy world so many years into his career AND two years after serious neck surgery.  Peyton is a total dork in every commercial he appears in, but a total stud on the field.

The second quarterback I think is worth a go is Jay Cutler.  The Bears have been on a tear this year, and the Detroit secondary is the only reason they aren't undefeated.  Forte is a beast in the receiving game, Martellus Bennett is becoming a Top 10 TE option and Alshon Jeffery is starting to live up to his pre draft hype. 

I'm choosing Ryan Tannehill as the Sleeper at QB.  Coming off of an unexpected victory over Atlanta, the New Orleans Saints powerhouse offense/kinda shabby defense is next.  This should be a good game, high scoring and definitely in the favor of your fantasy team!

Photo Cred www.terezowens.com

Running Backs?  I'm taking a stab at Doug Martin.  The Muscle Hamster has been bottled up so far this season, especially with the Bucs playing from behind so often.  This week, I'm picking him to have his breakout game of the year! Tampa Bay is going to an unproven rookie QB in Mike Glennon, which I hope means they will rely on Martin to carry them!

Also, Trent Richardson.  With the news that Ahmad Bradshaw is out, the only man left to shoulder the load is Trent.  Against a horrible Jaguar squad, look for Richardson to have the game of his career Sunday afternoon!

Sleeper: Lamar Miller.  The running situation in Miami is a bit hairy, but I think Miller is going to see the Lion's share of the carries Monday night.  His chances against New Orleans are good, as it will most definitely be a high scoring affair.  This is the week Lamar permanently separates himself from Daniel Thomas.

On to Wide Receivers...I'm taking Brandon Marshall as the top start of the week.  The Bears have played superbly this year, and the Lions defense gives up points.  Marshall should be an easy lock for 100+ yards and at least one TD.

Photo Cred www.redraiders.com

I'm also going with Stephen Hill, of the Jets.  He seems to have some chemistry going with Geno Smith.  Let's see the magic continue this week against the Tennessee secondary!

My sleeper at WR is Greg Jennings.  He hasn't been able to get much going so far with the Vikings, but he's up against a very bad Steelers secondary.

Game Prediction:  I've heard a lot of talk this week about the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.  Most people are expecting a massacre.  The spread currently sits around 11.5.  What are my thoughts on this game?

I think it will be closer than many think.  The Eagles play up to the challenge when they face teams like this.  Will they win? No.  Will they cover the spread?  Yes.  The Eagles have scored as many touchdowns as their opponent in every game so far this year.  The difference has been field goals.  I'm choosing Philly to score as many touchdowns as the Broncos (4) but lose the field goal battle. Denver 34 Eagles 28.

What you got readers?  Any questions/comments/insults?  Let me have it!

Left Handed Larceny

Preseason Power Rankings

by Eric Berkenpas

Seemed like all I did was blink and the 2013-2014 NHL season is upon us! There was a lot of activity in the offseason and a lot of expectations for some up and coming teams. Also, this is the first year of the newest rendition of NHL Division Musical Chairs. There is a ton of reason to be excited about the upcoming season so let's jump into my preseason rankings!

Photo cred www.pantagraph.com

1. Chicago Blackhawks - With virtually the same team that blew through the playoffs last year to win the Cup, there is no reason to believe the Hawks will not be as dominant as they were last year. They still have their strong core of young players and guys like Brandon Saad are only going to get better.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins - You may think this is a biased pick and, well, maybe it partly is but I truly think the Penguins will be the team to beat in the East again. Morrow, Iginla and Murray are gone and the team is back to the basic structure that ripped off 15 wins in a row last year. Rob Scuderi, who was a key part of the '09 championship team, is back and will certainly have a positive effect on the team.

3. Ottawa Senators - Out with the old and in with the new. Ottawa traded old man Alfie away to Detroit and brought in Bobby Ryan from Anaheim who was arguably the most talented player to move in the offseason. On top of that, they brought in Clarke MacArthur from Toronto and increase the depth of their attack. With the success that Ottawa had with a broken and battered team last year, they should prove to be one of the best this year with a full lineup featuring Spezza, Karlsson, Ryan, Conacher and Anderson.

Photo cred detroitjockcity.com

4. Detroit Red Wings - After a lackluster year last year, the Red Wings made some moves in the offseason that should elevate them back to the dominant form they took on in past years. They brought it Alfredsson from Ottawa who, though he is aging and isn't as effective as he used to be, should still have a significant effect on this star-studded team. Another addition is Stephen Weiss from Florida who has tremendous skill that never fully blossomed in Florida. If the defense can improve, Howard remains a rock in the net and youngsters like Gustav Nyqvist, Joakim Andersson and Danny DeKeyser can contribute, the Red Wings will be challenging the top dogs in the East.

5. Los Angeles Kings - The Kings can never seem to put a whole season together but the potential strength of this team is too undeniable to not have them in the top 5. They have great defense, arguably the best goalie in the league and a ton of weapons offensively. Greene will be back in the lineup after missing all season last year and will definitely improve this team defensively. Expect to see LA at the top of the standings for the majority of the season.

Photo cred www.startribune.com

6. St. Louis Blues - The Blue made some big moves in the offseason in acquiring Derek Roy from the Canucks and just recently snatching Brenden Morrow out of free agency. Halak and Elliot look to tag team net-minding responsibilities with the same strong defense in front of them. Tarasenko could also have a monster season. He was dominating last year before he got hurt and there is every reason to believe he will be just as good and probably better. St. Louis has potential to be a complete power house, it just remains to be seen if they can reach that potential.

7. Carolina Hurricanes - Call me crazy, but the Hurricanes are lookin' good. With Cam Ward back, the acquisition of a solid backup in Anton Kudobin and the extreme potential and skill of first round draft pick Elias Lindholm, the Hurricanes could be a serious threat this year. Eric Staal, Alexander Semin and Jiri Tlusty comprised one of the top lines in hockey last year and the second line is almost as good with Jordan Staal and Jeff Skinner. Defense was the issue last year but this team was one of the best until Cam Ward went down. With him healthy, the sky is the limit for the Canes.

Photo cred articles.washingtonpost.com

8. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Jackets finished strong last year and barely missed playoffs. They kept Jack Johnson and Marian Gaborik in the offseason and acquired Nathan Horton from Boston. Bobrovsky who had a Vezina-like season will be premiered between the pipes. The rest of the team is a core of young players who will only be improving with time like Mark Letestu, Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner and Artem Anisimov. Ryan Murray looks like he is going to get his first taste of NHL action too and should be a big help for the Jackets' D. The pieces are in place for Columbus to make a good run at the playoffs.

9. Montreal Canadiens - I hesitate putting the Candiens this low. There is all the reason in the world to think they will be as good, if not, better this year than last. Carey Price is coming off arguably his best season yet and they added Danny Briere who should fit in perfectly. Subban also had one of his best years and highly touted rookie Galchenyuk could have a monster year this year. There is still just something about the Habs though that makes me not have as much confidence in them as I should.

Photo cred tracking.si.com

10. Washington Capitals - The Caps were the best team in the league in the last month of the season. They live and die by the play of one man, Alexander Ovechkin. He was in a year and a half slump but when he broke out of it, he went on a scoring rampage that has not been seen since possibly the days of Lemieux and Gretsky. Mike Ribeiro is gone but the Caps brought in Mikhail Grabovski from the Leafs who will be a significant 2nd line contributor. Braden Holtby is still the guy in net and could break the 40 win mark this year.

11. San Jose Sharks - The Sharks had a very up and down season last year but definitely have a lineup that can do some damage on the ice. With guys like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Antii Niemi, you are pretty much a shoe-in to make the playoffs. Tyler Kennedy was the only one brought in in the offseason who always plays an extremely intense style of hockey and has had a 20 goal season. Additionally, the Sharks have brought in their 2012 premier draft pick Tomas Hertl who they have very high hopes for and could be a piece that propels San Jose to compete for the top spot in the West.

Photo cred www.zimbio.com

12. Anaheim Ducks - Bobby Ryan is no longer present but Jakob Silfverberg should make up for the loss. He is one of the top rated prospects in the league and got a lot of experience last year in Ottawa. The Ducks still have their dominant tandem of goalies and with Getzlaf, Perry, Cogliano, Palmieri and now Silfverberg, the Ducks posses potentially one of the most dangerous attacks in the league. I don't expect them to stay at #10 on my list for very long.

13. Boston Bruins - The Bruins had a great team last year and made a great run to the Cup Finals. This yeah, however, the B's are not looking quite as strong. They gained Iginla and Eriksson but lost Jagr, Horton, Seguin, Peverley and backup goalie, Khudobin. Boston will still be a solid defensive team and still have one of the best goalies in the game, but they could struggle finding the back of the net. Julien will have a harder time coming by wins this year but his team still has the potential to be great, I just don't think they will be.

Photo cred oilonwhyte.com

14. Edmonton Oilers - Gotta think this is finally the year where Edmonton's consecutive high draft picks will finally pay off and put together a playoff-worthy year. Taylor Hall had an outstanding year last year and Nugent-Hopkins will be back. Dubnyk started showing some positive signs in the second half of the season that he could be the goalie that puts the Oilers over the top. The addition of Andrew Ference will make for defensive improvement. Nail Yakupov had a pretty good rookie campaign and will only get better with time. I expect the Oilers to be competing for a playoff spot this year.

15. New York Islanders - I may be a Penguins fan, but I love the Islanders when they aren't playing the Pens. John Tavares has proved to be one of the elite players in the league and almost won his firs Hart Trophy. They gained Clutterbuck and Bouchard in the offseason to add more grit and offense to their team. There are still many question marks surrounding their defense and goalie situation but they should still be vying for a playoff spot throughout the season.

Photo cred newyork.cbslocal.com

16. New York Rangers - The Rangers made no major offseason moves but will still be a contendor in the East. Clowe got picked up by the Devils so the Rangers are bringing a far less flashy lineup into this season. Rick Nash will have to play a prominent part in their success as will Brad Richards. Callahan will need to start producing more offensively and Brassard will be expected to take on a bigger role. Alain Vigneault will have some work to do to get the Rangers back in dominant form. Always helps to have King Henrik in net though.

17. Vancouver Canucks - Like every year, the season depends on one man, Roberto Luongo. The Nucks have gone back to putting their trust in him when they shipped Schneider out to NJ. The Sedin twins will be a force as they always are and the Canucks will definitely be in the playoff picture throughout the season. They have potential to be one of the best, but they could also be a train wreck. We must wait and see.

Photo cred www.baynews9.com

18. Tampa Bay Lightning - If I were basing this off of preseason, Tampa would be in the top 5, because they looked extremely good. Last year, Stamkos just barely got edged out for Rockey Richard honors and St. Louis nabbed the Art Ross. Outside of those two though, the Bolts were not a team to write home about. They had possibly the worst defense and goalie combos in the league and were forced to score way too many goals to stay competitive. This year, they have a better (and finally younger) goalie in net with a defense that looks improved. They brought in Valtteri Filppula from Detroit and drafted youngster, Jonathan Drouin 3rd overall in this year's draft. Things are looking to be on the rise in Tampa and this is definitely not going to be a team to take lightly anymore.

19. Philadelphia Flyers - I would not be surprised at all if the Flyers finish better than 19th overall at the end of the year, but last year left too many question marks and the offseason answered some while it also created others. Danny Briere is gone and the Flyers bought out Bryzgalov's contract, leaving Ray Emery to man the crease this year who had a great season last year, but mostly in part to a highly disciplined and skilled group of defensemen in front of him. Lecavalier is one guy who will make a big difference this year. The other is Claude Giroux. He needs to be better. If he can play back up to his potential, the Flyers could be back to their 2011-2012 form.

Photo cred bluejackets.nhl.com

20. Minnesota Wild - The Wild eventually got going last year and squeaked into the final playoff spot. Suter had a great year whereas Parise was about average (though he did lead the team in points). The Wild added Cooke and lost Clutterbuck which is a move in the offensive direction, but only barely. Backstrom was a large reason for the playoff berth and will need to be as good and likely better this year for the Wild to make the playoffs again.

21. Dallas Stars - The Stars were really bad last year and it is apparent by the offseason that they were none too pleased about it. Gonchar, Horcoff, Seguin and Peverley were added along with the skilled youngster, Valeri Nichushkin in the draft. Now it's just a question of can Lindy Ruff put the players together effectively. Lehtonen will be the guy in the crease again and the defense is the main question mark. If they can perform, the Stars are going to be very good. If not, they could be the Lightning of the West.

22. Winnipeg Jets - Plain and simple, the Jets could be really good this year. They just missed playoffs last year but have a lot of players starting to really mature into solid hockey players. Bryan Little, Evander Kane, Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd, Zach Bogosian, Grant Clitsome, Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom and Ondrej Pavelec are all improving and could definitely take their team to the playoffs. I expect this team to turn a lot of heads in their first year in the West, but there is also some room for failure.

Photo cred nhl.si.com

23. Toronto Maple Leafs - This year may not bode as well for the Leafs as last year did. They added Bernier who will likely be the starter sooner rather than later and Clarkson but lost two key players in MacArthur and Grabovski. With Kessel, Lupul and Kadri, the Leafs will still prove to be a difficult team to beat, but I don't expect them to repeat or improve on their season last year and would be a little surprised to see them in the playoffs.

24. Phoenix Coyotes - Mike Smith is good enough that on his own he keeps Phoenix from the bottom of this list. They have some pretty solid defensemen in Yandle, Ekman-Larsson and Michalek. The addition of Mike Ribeiro and the potential of 2013 12th overall pick Max Domi, Phoenix could find themselves to be pretty competitive again. On paper though, they still look pretty weak compared to the rest of the west.

25. Nashville Predators - The Preds will be relying heavily, once again, on Pekka Rinne to carry their team. They drafted projected first overall pick, Seth Jones, 4th overall in the 2013 draft and he could show immediate results on the blue line. In addition to him, role guys Stalberg and Cullen were added to improve the depth of the Preds. Problem is, those guys were added to an extremely weak roster that lacks any semblance of goal scoring capability. We will see what Barry Trotz can put together this year, but I don't expect much. Not yet, at least.

Photo cred yle.fi

26. Florida Panthers - This is the team I am pullin' for this year, I just don't have a lot of confidence in them. Jacob Markstrom, who is arguably the top goalie prospect, got some good experience last year but it looks like Tim Thomas may be moving in to take his starting spot. Huberdeau is fresh off a Calder Trophy worthy season and will only improve each year. 2013 2nd Overall Pick Alexsander Barkov will very likely have a spot on the roster from the get go and will be an immediate candidate for the Calder Trophy. The Panthers have one of the youngest teams in the league which can be a bad thing, but can also be a very good thing, especially in the future. Expect the Panthers to surprise you this year, but also don't be surprised if they finish near or at the bottom.

27. New Jersey Devils - The Devils were bad this year and things only got worse in the offseason when Ilya Kovalchuk left to go play in the KHL. The Devils brought in Jagr, Clowe and Ryder to try to offset the loss of their superstar, but those three will hardly get them back to even. Corey Schneider was brought in to help aging Brodeur carry the load in net, but the Devils are just not deep or skilled enough to compete with the rest of the Conference.

28. Colorado Avalanche - The Avs have some of the best young forwards in the game with Duchene, Stastny, Landeskog, Parenteau and possibly MacKinnon, the first overal pick in the 2013 draft. The problem with the Avs is they are very weak defensively and mediocre in the net. The only way the Avs are going to make any noise this year is if they outscore their opponents; and they will definitely be scoring goals.

Photo cred www.gettyimages.co.uk

29. Buffalo Sabres - Sabres need to start rebuilding. They have a pretty good group of defensemen and a proven goalie in Ryan Miller, but outside of Vanek and maybe Ennis, there are gaping holes in the group of forwards that will need to be addressed before the Sabres go anywhere.  Mikhail Grigorenko will get some good NHL experience this year, but he isn't enough to turn this team completely around. I expect them to finish last in the east this year.

30. Calgary Flames - They are finally rebuilding! It all starting with letting Iginla go. The future faces of this team are going to be Sven Baertschi and Sean Monahan but until they blossom and are given good complimentary pieces to fill the gaping holes in every part of this team, they are going to be the weak link in the West. But their day will come...

Eric Berkenpas is the newest member of Sports Eye View and can be reached at ejberkenpas22@gmail.com

Random Sports Ramblings

NHL Draft Strategy

by Eric Berkenpas

Not sure how many of you play fantasy hockey. It certainly doesn't attract appeal like Fantasy Football does, but then again neither does the NHL compared the the NFL. However, if you ask me, Fantasy Hockey is the best fantasy sport. Why? Because Hockey is the greatest sport known to man, duh! And that is a fact. Now that we have that settled, lets talk drafting. I have yet to draft a team this year so I would like to discuss some strategies. Obviously there are almost endless formats your leagues can take so I will focus on the most popular.

Photo cred www.thestar.com

Standard League, Head-to-Head

If you are one of those people who thinks draft order has everything to do with who gets the best team, think again. There are ways to master your draft no matter what draft position you get. The first overall pick will snatch the top player but then they have to wait for everyone to draft twice before they can grab their second player whereas the last pick is the first team to draft two players in a row. If you get first pick, you better get ready to think. Many years, there is a clear cut obvious player that needs to be taken first overall. This year, that is not the case. I am going to propose 5 players who I think could all legitimately land a first overall pick.

1. Sidney Crosby (Pit) - 15G, 41A in 36 Games

2. Alexander Ovechkin (Was) - 32G, 24A in 48 Games

3. Evgeni Malkin (Pit) - 9G, 24A in 31 Games

4. Steven Stamkos (TB) - 29G, 28A in 48 Games

5. Patrick Kane (Chi) - 23G, 32A in 47 Games

Photo cred www.therichest.com

Please note, arguments can be made for other players who are deserving of that top pick, but you can't really go wrong any of these guys. Crosby was on pace to finish with roughly 75 points before getting injured which would have landed him 15 points ahead of Art Ross winner, Martin St. Louis. Can he regain chemistry with Kunitz and Dupuis and can they produce like they did last year? Hard to say, but Crosby will get his points regardless of who he plays with. Ovie woke up halfway through the season last year and scored goals at an unimaginable click. If that Ovie comes to play this year, he has Art Ross and likely a second straight Hart Trophy written all over him. Evgeni Malkin has always been a very inconsistent player (other than is 2011-12 campaign) but we have all seen what he is very capable of. Steven Stamkos has been living under the shadow of Crosby, Malkin and Ovie since entering the league but is in every way as legitimate of a scoring talent as those three. He has immense hockey smarts and always finds himself in the scoring areas of the ice. His wrist shot is second best only to Ovechkin and he is a threat to score at any point when the puck is on his stick. Patrick Kane had his best season last year and with the high powered talent he plays with combined with his nearly unprecedented skill set, the sky is the limit.

Photo cred www.nhlsnipers.com

From there, keep an eye out for guys like Claude Giroux, Nicklas Backstrom, Taylor Hall, Anze Kopitar, Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, Jason Spezza, Bobby Ryan, Nail Yakupov, Jamie Benn, Marian Gaborik and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who I fully expect to exceed their preseason rankings when it is all said and done.

Goalies: They tend to be the make it or break it aspect to any fantasy hockey team. Let me shoot straight real quick: you will need at least one good goalie if you want to succeed! Goalies are the only position that gives you stats that are consistent and reliable (unless you are in a league using Hits, Blocks, FW, FL, SOG, etc...). Here are my rankings of who I think the top 10 fantasy goalies will be this year:

1. Jonathan Quick (LA)

2. Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)

3. Tuukka Rask (Bos)

4. Jimmy Howard (Det)

5. Corey Crawford (Chi)

6. Sergei Bobrovsky (Cls)

7. Antti Niemi (SJ)

8. Craig Anderson (Ott)

9. Marc-Andre Fleury (Pit)

10. Pekka Rinne (Nas)

Photo cred www.maxpreps.com

Rinne is way over-valued in most leagues. He is one of the best goalies in the NHL, but you have to take into account how bad the team around him is an how effective he will be for fantasy. His wins will be down and he will be facing a lot of rubber so there is a good likelihood his GAA may be higher than usual. Marc-Andre Fleury is the go to goalie in Pittsburgh, a team that will likely compile a ton of wins this year. He tends to have good numbers during the regular season too and since playoff stats have no bearing on fantasy, Fleury is a good bet for 2.50 GAA and 35+ wins. Craig Anderson played a little over his head last year but will still be a solid contributor to your team. Bobrovsky also played a little over his head but the Blue Jackets are a steadily improving team which will most assuredly spell success for the man between the pipes. Corey Crawford no longer has his partner in crime (Ray Emery) with him so he will now be the go-to guy. Can he handle the pressure? I think his numbers will be down from last year, but that's not sayin' much. Tuukka Rask proved last year in the playoffs how good he can be. Unfortunately, he will have to be that good because Boston lost a lot of talent in the offseason. Now for our top 2 guys. Quick struggled in the season last year but recovered just in time to finish strong and put up his normal numbers in the playoffs. Lundvist was also not as good last year, but that is mostly due to the team around him not being as good. He is still arguably the best goalie in the league. The only other guy who can compete with him for that title is Jonathan Quick. Reason Quick is first in my rankings is simple: I think the Kings will be much better than the Rangers this year.

Photo cred www.thestar.com

There are two strategies to take when drafting defensemen. Offensive stats, or minor stats. Offensive stats include G, A, P, PPG, PPA, PPP, SHG, SHA, SHP, GWG and S%. Minor stats are all the other ones that have little to do with the offensive production of the individual; +/-, PIM, SOG, FW, FL, Hits and Blocks. If you draft highly offensive forwards, you are going to need defensemen who get you your other stats. If you draft dynamic forwards who are more geared towards your minor stats, you are going to want to help out your offensive production with high scoring defensemen. You can easily search on your own who the top producing defensemen are. I am going to give you a list of defensemen who are best for the minor stats. These are in no particular order.

1. Dion Phaneuf (Tor) - High hits, blocks and PIMs. Decent +/-

2. Brooks Orpik (Pit) - High hits, blocks and +/-. Low PIMs

3. Dennis Seidenberg (Bos) - High hits, blocks an +/-. Low PIMs. Decent offense

4. Shea Weber (Nas) - High hits and offense. Decent blocks. Low +/-

5. Ladislav Smid (Edm) - High hits and blocks. Decent PIMs. Low +/-

6. Luke Schenn (Phi) - Very high hits. High blocks. Low PIMs and +/-

7. Mark Frasor (Tor) - High hits, blocks, PIMs and +/-

8. Drew Doughty (LA) - High hits and offense. Low blocks and PIMs.

9. Dan Girardi (NYR) - High blocks. Decent hits and +/-. Low PIMs

10. Brent Seabrook (Chi) - High blocks. Decent hits, offense and +/-. Low PIMs.

Let's finish this off with my top 10 players in each position (refer above for goalies):

Center
1. Sidney Crosby (Pit)
2. Steven Stamkos (TB)
3. John Tavares (NYI)
4. Evgeni Malkin (Pit)
5. Nicklas Backstrom (Was)
6. Claude Giroux (Phi)
7. Eric Staal (Car)
8. Jonathan Toews (Chi)
9. Henrik Sedin (Van)
10. Anze Kopitar (LA)

Left Wing
1. Taylor Hall (Edm)
2. Daniel Sedin (Van)
3. Thomas Vanek (Buf)
4. Bobby Ryan (Ott)
5. Alexander Semin (Car)
6. Jamie Benn (Dal)
7. Henrik Zetterberg (Det)
8. Patrick Sharp (Chi)
9. Joffrey Lupul (Tor)
10. Matt Moulson (NYI)

Right Wing
1. Alexander Ovechkin (Was)
2. Patrick Kane (Chi)
3. Phil Kessel (Tor)
4. James Neal (Pit)
5. Corey Perry (Ana)
6. Martin St. Louis (TB)
7. Nail Yakupov (Edm)
8. Rick Nash (NYR)
9. Marian Gaborik (Cls)
10. Jordan Eberle (Edm)

Defense
1. Erik Karlsson (Ott)
2. P.K. Subban (Mon)
3. Kris Letang (Pit)
4. Ryan Suter (Min)
5. Duncan Keith (Chi)
6. Shea Weber (Nas)
7. Justin Schultz (Edm)
8. Alex Pietrangelo (Stl)
9. Keith Yandle (Pho)
10. Mark Streit (Phi)

There you have it. This is not an exhaustive guide but it should provide some help if you are totally lost going into your draft. Feel free to leave comments and ask questions!

Eric Berkenpas is the newest member of Sports Eye View and can be reached at ejberkenpas22@gmail.com

Caleb's Dream Journal

Day 1 - A Fan's Higher Standard
By Caleb Musselman

I have a dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and stop placing athletes on a pedestal that exempts them from the law of common man. Seems simple enough right? If only it were that easy. 

As a child, every kid dreams of greatness. We stood alone in our driveway and practiced buzzer-beating fade-aways and last second free-throws. We ran unmarked post routes and called pass interference on the ghost marking us if we didn't make the TD grab. We toed the rubber and shook off 4 straight signs from our dad before firing a 40 mph heater into his mitt at the local park. These were the days.

About halfway through high school, most of us began to realize it is a bit harder to catch those deep post routes when being marked by a defender of equal skill; tougher to hit those buzzer-beaters when the clock doesn't reset when we miss; more difficult to throw strikes when someone is trying to hit them back at us. It was about that time when we started considering playing collegiate sports and starting realizing we had a better chance of becoming the next PhD than the next MJD. So we slowly started to mature (over the next few years) and think about our futures outside of sports. We thought about what it would look like to raise a family and who we would potentially want to spend our lives with (that is still a fantastic question). In short, we started to grow up.

www.thevalleymom.com

Well, there are a select few high school athletes who don't have those same issues. For these elect, they rise above the defender to catch that TD; have the stroke to consistently sink those buzzer beaters; and throw hard enough to make any hitter back up off the plate. These are the ones whose dreams could potentially turn into reality. And believe me, they know it. These phenoms play their sport 365 days out of the year and pour every waking moment into their craft. These players are first the king of their hometown, then they are the king of their college-town.

Now here is my disclaimer: There are many athletes who are exceptional at every aspect of life. In fact, I would argue that the majority of them turn out to be model citizens, but my argument is not about them, rather about the public's perception of them.

www.post-gazette.com

Fast-forward to yesterday. I'm listening to talk radio here in Pittsburgh and the topic falls on Russell Shell. Russell is a stand-out running back who broke nearly every possible record in PA about 3 years ago. Russell played at Pitt for two years where he ran into some trouble. Not achieving the results he was expecting, Russell decided to quit the team and transfer. He'd never faced athletic adversity in his life and quitting was his knee-jerk reaction. Russell searched the nation and after having trouble finding a suitor, he decided he wanted back into Pitt.

When Russell came crawling back to Pitt head coach Paul Chryst, Chyrst didn't even give it a second thought. No thanks, Russell. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

OH MY GOODNESS. HE DID NOT. HOW COULD YOU TURN AWAY SHELL????!!!!!

A caller's exact words, "He deserves a second chance. He's just a kid."

www.sportsgrid.com

Well, Mr. ill-informed Caller, Russell did receive a few different second chances during his time at Pitt. Further, while Mr. Shell might be only 19 years-old, he is no child. In fact, he is a father. Shell is a father of twins. The fact of the matter is that Shell forfeited his childhood when he became a teenage father. While many of us make tough choices in life, it seems only the rich and famous can get away with them. While the 18 year-old working 50 hours a week at McDonald's to support his child is looked down upon as "someone who made a bad decision", Shell is given the get-out-of-jail free card. He's just a kid! Kids make mistakes!

Yes they do. And when kids make big mistakes, they are called into adulthood very quickly. Unfortunately, athletes often have an easy out with there fan bases. This caller put his own hopes and dreams for Pitt football and his own selfishness in front of what is best for the program. His perspective on athletics is not unusual.

The examples are endless. In the NBA, players are often featured on social media at a night club after a big win. 30 year-old men who have young children...at a night club. Is this real life?

photo cred: www.drizzydrake.org

Think about someone else who you look up to. Your boss? Your dad? A political leader? Do you see them hanging out at night clubs after a long day at work? So if they aren't, why do we idolize these men who play a game for a living as a separate entity that can elude the rules on a consistent basis?

There is a colossal difference between malehood and manhood. As a nation the line between the two is quickly becoming blurry. The good Lord chose to make you a male; it is up to each one of us to choose to become a man. Our best and brightest young stars model themselves after the athletes they hope to become. It has always been that way and it won't change any time soon. These same prodigies see that real consequences only come when you are caught in a scandal or charged for murder.

So what is the call to action? The call is pointed at the public. Stop making excuses for your favorite athletes. Stop basing your biases on who is on your fantasy team. Don't buy the jersey of the guy who acts like a spoiled, entitled child on the field. I don't care how fast he is or how many touchdowns he catches. Why? Because whether you realize it or not, you have a similar effect on athletes as they have on you. They desire twitter followers just as much as you do. They want 1 million just as bad as you want 1 thousand. If we continue to make excuses for the foolishness, they are going to keep peeing on the carpet. If we continue to laugh at the ridiculous, they will remain the king of comedy.

If the public establishes a standard, the results will follow. The role models will begin to emerge, and the youth will rise stronger and more prepared to lead. Fans, stand up and be a man. You might be surprised how many males will follow suit.

www.g33kwatch.com