Lost in thought, on Open Seas....

Well, I hope everyone had a very nice thanksgiving... I sure did....

Anyways, here's the headline form the Milwaukee Urinal....

Yeah...  that pretty much covers it.....

This is Bob McGinn...

Columnist / Football Analyst who is pretty impressed with himself and his opinions....

About 5 weeks ago, he wrote a column in which he opined "The Packers could win without Aaron Rodgers..."

Weeeeeeelllllll...  We haven't yet, Bob!!!

I'm waiting for that column where you say "Okay, I was very wrong, we clearly cannot and have not won without Aaron Rodgers....."

(Editors note: That column will never happen.  Mr. McGinn is never wrong.  Go ahead and ask him, he'll tell you all about it....)

Head Coach Mike McCarthy has been pretty testy over the last month as well, continuing to insist that this is a complete team, and loves the backups, and they had a great week of practice, and this team is about a lot more than Aaron Rodgers, and we expect to rise to the challenge and win on Sunday....  blah biddy blah blah bleh blah....

Yeah, Coach??  Yeah, uhh, this is what happens when you have no Quarterback....  this is not a "Quarterback Driven league", as some would say.... this is a Quarterback league, period.....

I know, I know, I can hear you out there already.... I had the Packers with my pick.  This is a good lesson to all the young gamblers out there.... Don't bet what you HOPE will happen...  Bet what is logically likely to happen based on your analysis.... Even if, God Forbid, you have to hitch your wagon to someone like Eli Manning...

Ugh.  Brutal.  Even the lowly Chicago Bears, who I freely ridicule, had enough sense to have a capable backup waiting in the wings, just off stage right, to step in when Cutler went on IR, or crapped the bed, or whatever.....  Tip of the cap to the Bears.  That's how you do it. 

Now they have a full blown QB controversy... McCown is playing at least as good as Cutler was, if the numbers are to be believed.... but that's another discussion for another day.

Anyways, congrats go out to DJS26!!!  Yeah, he won week 12.  I realized Sunday afternoon, I was right there, but I had no possibility to win.  So that took the pressure off....  Another young Buck from Florida...  What is it with these Florida dudes???  Hmmm.

Since the Packer's Season is over (Yes, I'm calling it.  Okay, maybe the fat lady hasn't started singing just yet, but she's in her dressing room humming a few bars, to be sure, warming up the pipes...), let's review some of my futures and props, just for a laugh, eh???

(Editors Note: these are fake bets.  If gambling were legal, there might be some money on these...)

Under 14.5 - total Starts 2013 Robert Griffin III.
I can't believe this one isn't in the jar yet.  But it's not.  Looks like he's started every game.  I could still cash this ticket though.... I still kind of like it.  I mean really, at the beginning of the season, the bet was basically "Will RG3 miss more than one start."  Felt like a yes, with some of the shots he takes, plus his new nickname, RGKnee....

Under 4500 - total Passing Yards, Peyton Manning.
Hmm.  He's sitting on 3700 yards right now.  So, 200 in his remaining games, he makes it no problem.  I was basically betting that he couldn't stay healthy all year....  Feels like he gets there, unless there's a disaster of some sort....

Under 11.5 - total wins 2013 Denver Broncos regular season
I don't know about this one either.  Another way to bet "No way Peyton Manning and his 4 surgery neck survives the season".  I don't see how he's doing it.  A friend of mine had a neck surgery a year ago....  He's hoping to someday walk without a cane and drive his own car again......  Yeah, "bummer" doesn't quite cover it.   This guy basically had the world by the ass, and now those are his life goals.  So during this Thanksgiving Season, give thanks for the things you have, like your health....  As TS Elliot so famously said, "...Remember Phloebas, who was once handsome, and tall as you..."

Under 1.0 - total people reading this blog who "got" the TS Elliot reference....
Yeah, no way anybody has any idea about THAT one....  I'm tempted to offer a gift card at Buffalo Wild Wings to anyone who can name the title of the work, and the chapter.... but I see I just Googled it, and it spit out the answer in .0000128 seconds....

Under 10.5 - Total wins 2013 Green Bay Packers Regular Season
This feels like a win.  I just looked it up, and I quote, "A Tie Game is considered a Loss".  I'm sitting here thinking, I think mathematically, I'm in.  We have 4 to go, we have 5 wins..... Uhhh,  I was told there would be no math, uhhh...  This is another lesson to the young gamblers out there: A bet like this is almost a no-lose situation, as long as you don't bet too much on it.  Look, if the Packers win 11 or more games, I'm thrilled.  If they stink, it sucks, but at least I win money to ease my pain....

Over 5.5 - total wins 2013 Arizona Cardinals regular season.
This is already in the jar, they've won 7, I think.  What can I say, I love Bruce Ariens, I liked their chances.  I probably should have put my whole 410k on this one....  way too easy....

(Editors note: No you should NOT.  At NO TIME should you put your whole 401k on anything!  Don't do it!)

Anyways, that's all I have for today.....

Burning in the Skies...

"... I'm swimming in the smoke
Of the Pick sheets I have burned
So don't apologize
I'm losing what I don't deserve.....

The pain is mine alone....
Of the Pick Sheets I have burned...."
- sung to the tune of "Burning In The Skies" by Linkin Park

Yeah.  That about sums it up.  I used the pick sheets to make the fire rise.....

Moving on to the Congratulations:

Week 6  Bulldogs Rule!  They really do rule, apparently.  2nd win.  Nice job man!

Week 7 Studmonkey!  Hey, a new player breaks through.  Nice job!

Week 8 Florida Boys!  All that Florida sun must be good for picks....  this guy, all he does is play golf & eat Lays potato chips.... When does he analyze games???  Maybe he sits on the couch & eats the chips in front of his Big Screen....

Week 9 Bulldogs Rule Again!!!  Crazy. 

Week 10 Phanatic Philly Phan.  Hey, nice job man.  Phanatic Philly Fan is off the Jack Daniels, and has switched back to Coors Lights.... things are looking up for the Eagles....

Week 11 Ardita, with his second win of the year.   Week 1 and week 11.  He only wins if there's all "1"'s in the number of the week.....  Hey, nice job man!   I feel the need to point out that I would have won week 10 if the Bears beat the Lions....  never count on the Bears.  Never.  They'll kill you....

Anyways...  did you see the Patriots were 3 point underdogs last Monday???  Yeah, me too... when's the last time they were dogs, anywhere???  And then they lost by 4.....  If gambling were legal, that might have cost me money....

Mike McCarthy has been pretty testy these last few weeks, and he keeps insisting this team is about more than Aaron Rodgers.....  Uhh, Mike?  You might be wrong.  This team might in fact BE all about Aaron Rodgers....

Hall of Fame list came out, did you see this??? 

If not, here it is:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000285347/article/semifinalists-for-pro-football-hall-of-fames-2014-class

Of those 25, for what it's worth, here's my 5 inductees:

Jimmy Johnson - If John Madden is in (and he is), Jimmy Johnson must go in.

Tony Dungy - only 1 Super Bowl, but he won everywhere he went, even as D Coordinator in his younger days....

Morten Andersen - it's long past time for a kicker to go in the hall.  And if you're going to have a kicker, how about a guy who won the scoring title several times in his long decorated career???

Tim Brown - If it wasn't for a guy name "Jerry Rice", he'd have a lot of records.  When he played, it was Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, and everyone else.....

Charles Haley - 5 Super bowl Rings, 2 with the 49ers, 3 with the Cowboys.  Inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor November of 2011.  Very deserving.  If Jonathon Ogden is in, how can Charles Haley not be in???

Those are my thoughts.....  that and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks....

Enjoy the games!

Coming out of the foxhole....

Hey, good evening!

I've fallen waaaay behind here obviously, so let's try to catch up a little....

First off, welcome to BRADY01....  another new player.   IN the interest of fairness and full disclosure, the full fee was paid, just like everyone else paid...  Good luck!

Moving along.

Week #2: BULLDOGS RULE won the week.  Very nice!  Congrats!  Younger people who live in Florida apparently have plenty of time to analyze their football picks.....

Week #3: SHARPCHEDDAR wins the week!  Nice job man!  Sharpcheddar is well known to pick a lot of upsets, but when they come in, they come in.....

Week #4: BIG HEADED HOLY ROLLERS wins the week.  Hey, congrats!  Another Florida resident with too much time on his hands.... troubling, to be sure.  He's supposed to be studying something at that college he goes to......  sigh....

Week #5: KCAMOSY!  A new guy, breaking through for his first win....  Congrats!  I did mention that new people can't win their first year, right???  Yeah, so, I get to keep that.....

(Joking.....)

Actually, he stole it from me.  How do the Jets beat Atlanta??  In the Georgia Dome???  With their rookie Quarterback??  Stolen.... I'm telling you.... I was robbed.  He committed the robbery....

Am I to assume that Atlanta and Houston are no longer good???  Am I giving too much credit to last year???  I mean, look, you want to run away during the Playoffs, but they've been very reliable during the regular season......  Until now.....

The Fraud That Is Eli Manning continues to impress.  Some performances for the ages, he's putting in here.  Even Tom Coughlin turned on him in his presser this week.....

Manning has thrown 12 picks in the 5 losses, and also lost 2 fumbles.  His QB rating is sitting on 65.... Even below his pathetic career average....  Statistically, he is still better than Blaine Gabbert, but not by much.....

Not to let the cat out of the bag, but I had to take the Bears tonight.  I can't tell you how much that pained me....  and sitting here knowing Ardita will have the Bears for 16....  Game Theory would dictate that I must also take the Bears for 16....  But I can't do it.  I can't.  But I can't root for the Giants either.....  talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Cliffs in front of me, and wolves behind....

Now, before someone gets offended, I applaud the NFL's efforts to increase awareness of Breast Cancer.    Certainly a worthy cause.  Myself and The Doc just did a Harley ride, to support the Lady Rider's Breast Cancer Research Foundation.....

That being said, when you see Tom Coughlin's face turning red on the sideline, is that part of the breast cancer thing???  Or does that happen either way???  Just wondering....

News Item: Matt Flynn released by the Raiders.  Whoops!  Wow.  Brought in by 2 different teams, to be the future of their franchise....   And he supposedly will not be back with the Packers, either, or so says Coach McCarthy.....

These Officials are so brutal.... so brutal.  During the Packer game, we got a touchdown called back, that was clearly a touchdown.   Then, to really make it absurd, goofball Mike Pierera comes on, and DEFENDS THE CALL?!?!?  My cell phone almost exploded!  Everyone I know text bombed me to vent their displeasure at the obviously botched call.....  Totally absurd.  Seriously, when do the real referee's come back???  I'm still waiting....  That entire Packer game, horribly officiated throughout.  those guys clearly were fired from the Lingerie Football League....

Anyways, another reminder, set your Autopick Options up on the website!!!  Somebody who shall remain nameless didn't get their picks in on time last weekend....  If you put your own picks in, the autopick does nothing....  If you have no picks in, the autopick goes in, and at least you have SOMETHING.....

Josh Freeman to the Vikings.   Where are they sending Greg Schiano???  Home???  And now that Josh is gone, who will Schiano blame all his problems on????  Questions....

The biggest Point Spread in History... On an NFL Game.  Or, a tie, for the biggest, depending on who you believe....  Denver is a 28 point favorite over Jacksonville.....  An crazy huge point spread in a professional football game. 

Am I tempted to take Jacksonville??   No.  If gambling were legal, I would stay away from that....  Stay away, kids.    Why take Jacksonville when the Arizona Cardinals have been printing money for you all year???  They've been home dogs in several games....

Matt Schaub of the Texans, the first time ever apparently that a QB has thrown a Pick-6 in 4 straight games.  Brutal.  (A pick 6, for those who don't know, is an interception returned for a touchdown by the intercepting player)  Probably just a luck fluky thing, but still, it's troubling.  This guy is supposed to be leading you to the promised land.....

Alright.... In a few minutes, another Football game starts.... the pressure!  I'm telling you.....

Enjoy!

We have met the enemy....

Hey, greetings!!!

Recovered from opening weekend yet???

Nah, me neither.... 14 straight hours in front of the Epic 60 inch LED will wear you out....

Ahhh, but the Football is back!

Congrats to ARDITA! A nice win...

Why does this feel like that scene in the Star Wars movie where the Emperor reveals that the Battle Station is FULLY OPERATIONAL?!??!?! Maybe it's just me.... Ardita, coming strong out of the gate....

Han Solo: "I've got a bad feeling about this...."

Yeah, no kidding....

We have some new players, as you may have noticed. Welcome to DJS26, STUDMONKEY, KCAMOSY, and SPARKY1987. I'm told they know NOTHING about Football, so, everyone just relax....

(They wouldn't lie to me, would they????)

DJS26 was making a play for it there.... I dunno....

Yeah, my picks were not great. I spent a little too much time imagining what *might* happen, instead of thinking about what might PROBABLY happen....

Anquan Boldin had a nice game against the Packers....

Now, can the Ravens go ahead and give back that sixth round pick, and have Boldin back??? NO?? Oh well....

What a beast.  And now he has a real Quarterback again..... Look out.

Cowboys Cheerleaders had plenty to cheer about... 6 turnovers against the hated Giants.  The Fraud That Is Eli Manning, already in midseason form, nice to see.....  Actually, that game should have been a blowout....  and now Tony Romo is hurt..... ouch....

News Item: Matt Flynn sold his house!

 

Not bad, not bad.... $1.4 million dollars, apparently...  this was his house in Seattle.  Maybe he should try a 1 year lease, and see how that goes.....  I mean, that would be a nice summer house... I'm not sure I'd want to be stuck there all year, though.....

(Yeah, right...)

That is Jacksonville, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  That's not 4 hours before kickoff people, that's the END OF THE 3RD QUARTER!!!

That's pretty empty.  Yeeesh.   Keep in mind, they adamantly do not want Tebow.  They do NOT.  They are apparently fundamentally opposed to anything that might draw people into their building....  Plus, they already have a guy who cannot play Quarterback, the immortal Blaine Gabbert....  who is now injured, and they need a QB.....  but no Tebow, please!    No no..... smh....

How about those Eagles???  Phanatic Philly Phan probably needed a defibrillator midway through the second quarter.....  that was a fun game to watch.... Chip Kelly, quite a debut....

Question: If a player straddling the ten yard line throws a pass, and a player at the 8&1/2  yard line bats it down, was the ball going forward, for a forward pass???  If you said no, congrats!  Not only are you bad at geometry, but you have a bright future as an official in the NFL!!!!

I promised myself I was going to stop b*tching about officiating, but holy crap.....  that's a promise made to be broken....

Alright people, we literally have less than 49 hours before the next football game.  I know, right??  Get your picks in, come correct, come strong with it.....

Rather than send 19 emails, everyone is paid up, okay, so relax.... Nobody is getting booted.   Fresh point spreads have landed on websites, like new fallen snow....

Congrats to the Cardinals!  I thought they would win, but they DID COVER.  Now, if there was a worldwide network of computers, and you could place bets in the British Virgin Isles, I may have had money on that.....

Until next week!

2013... And the Football Begins...

Hey, greetings to you, Players in Cadillac Pat's Pool!!!

The pool is open!

You should have recently received an invite in your email.

If your email needs updating, please update it on the Officefootballpool.com website. And you might let me know also, if you get a chance.

Last season was full of highlights....

Ardita had won the Season in 2010 and 2011.... Which, despite all my trash talking, is quite an amazing achievement. Probably never to be duplicated.

I (jokingly) pleaded with you to pick better, and unseat him... Well, I had to do it myself. I am YOUR FEARLESS LEADER for another year.... heavy lies the Crown.

I submit to you, gentle readers, it will be difficult to repeat. I think Ardita will keep that for life.

My research staff (being, me) went back through a few years of records, I couldn't find a perfect paper.... Last year we had TWO!

Week 7, in a highly unlikely development, Patrick686 had a perfect paper....

And in Week 11, the Big Headed Holy Rollers went Perfecto on us.... Nice job. All that Florida sunshine must be conducive to good picks....

Leo Woods won week 8 last year.... Some of you knew that Leo Woods was the "gambling pseudonym" for my neighbor & friend, Erv.

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Erv passed away last weekend. He has joined the big football pool in the sky. Erv was a great guy... We had a lot of laughs, talked a lot of trash, talked a lot of sports, and we may or may not have had a few beers from time to time....

For a guy his age, he was still very active until last fall, when some serious problems set in for him.... He'd be out shoveling snow at 6AM, he'd be packing the car in the predawn hours to drive to Green Bay, tailgate, and watch Packer Games... He was a Season Ticket holder for over 50 years. I suppose it's possible there was a bigger Packer Fan somewhere, but I don't know where. He was all about the Packers. He was retired from the United States Army after 28 years of highly decorated service to our Country.

It would be difficult to "sum up" Erv in 50 words or less.... he was one of these "force of nature" guys who was a constant in an ever-changing universe. He had an opinion, and he'd tell you about it, and that may have rubbed some people the wrong way, but he'd never lie to you, and he'd never sugarcoat it. I can't tell you how proud I am to say that he was my friend.

I've met his children, and one of his grandsons, and I know it would mean a great deal to them if you would kindly remember Erv for a second in your thoughts and prayers....

Heh heh Heh!!! Now, if Erv were here, I'm sure he'd say "Ohhh, whatthehellizzat!?!?!? Get rid of that! Just stick to the FOOTBALL!!! I don't want any of that...."

So okay, enough of that!!!!

Actually, my understanding is one of his sons is going to continue in the pool, so you in all likelihood will still see Leo Woods in the standings..... He may have had some ideas while he was entering Erv's Picks for him.... It gets harder when you have to pick them yourself. Fair warning....

Thursday, September 5th, 8:30 Eastern, Ravens at Broncos. The Season will KICK OFF!!!! Get your picks in!!! Set up your autopicks, if you know you'll be busy! Pay someone to pick for you! Do whatever you have to do, but GET YOUR PICKS IN!!!

Sunday, September 8th, 4:25 eastern, Packers at 49ers.... Just what we need, the 49ers.... Didn't we just play them??? Yeah, we did.

Good luck this season, and enjoy!

Let The Bodies Hit The Floor....

Hey, Happy New Year! If you're reading this, you survived. Good job.

Lot's of coaches and GM's being fired. The era of paitence is over.

To put us in the proper mood, review the epic video by The Drowning Pool, "Let The bodies Hit The Floor":


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1sqwq_drowning-pool-the-bodies-hit-the-fl_music

Alright then. I was going to go through the firings, but there's so many, it would take forever. Andy Reid, No surprise. I've joked all year about how Norv Turner got fired last year... Well, he finally got fired.

The most eyebrow-raising firing had to be Mike Reinfeldt, Senior VP & COO of the Tennessee Titans. Last year, he was elevated to that position, where he's more in charge of the financials, and they brought in a GM to run the team. Packer fans may recall, he was a highly placed executive with us during the Ron Wolf years, and was well thought of by many. Anyways, he was fired yesterday, but he didn't know it. He literally was at his desk working when TV & media reported his firing. People in the building wandered over to his office to offer their condolences, and found him sitting at his desk working, having no idea he'd been fired. Nice. Real nice.

It was suggested by a Titans blogger that Bud Adams, 90 year old owner of the Titans, may have been unaware that Reinfeldt was no longer the GM of football operations... Whoa.... Wow. All I can say is, wow. So the GM and Mike Mullarkey (HC) will stay, but Reinfeldt is out. Someone feel free to email me & explain how that makes any sense...

Cheerleader Update:

Broncos Cheerleaders had plenty to cheer about... Broncos have a bye.

Rams Cheerleaders, not so much. The did beat the 49ers and tie the 49ers this year though.... I would like to schedule a special consultation with them, to figure out how WE will beat the 49ers....

(And before you send me those emails, look: We're beating the Vikings Saturday. We are. Book it. Money line the Packers in this one, and pay off your Christmas bills.)

(Editor's Note: You HOPE we are....)

Season's Championship:

Well, some goofball named Patrick686 won the Seasons championship. Wait, that's me!!! Bwahh hah haha! Amazing.

You might recall, Ardita, die hard Bears fan, won the Season the last TWO years. I challenged you people last year to pick better, and not let him win a 3rd time. Geez, do I have to do everything myself??? Kidding, many of you did beat Ardita for the season...

Still quite an accomplishment, never been done before in this pool. I have a lot of fun with Ardita, and his Bears fandom, but seriously, as his reign as OUR FEARLESS LEADER comes to an end, I tip my cap to you sir. Back to back, that's amazing.

Now I will wear the Crown... for a year, I'll enjoy it. I have no grand delusions of repeating.... I think that's a feat, like Cal Ripken, that will never be broken.

By the way, Smitty201 made a furious charge Sunday, to tie Monjon for 2nd place. You see in the standings Smitty201 is 2, Monjon is 3. Tiebreaker differential is the first tiebreaker. So, when you put those points on Monday Night Football, uhh, that matters.

Seriously, after 17 weeks, who woulda thunk it!?!?!? Who would think we'd need a tiebreaker for the season!!! Unbelievable.

NFL MVP: My NFL MVP is Adrian Peterson. How is it not him??? A dominating performance against the Pack. Dominant all year, coming off a complete knee reconstruction. Go ahead and email me your case for Peyton Manning, but I'll tell you right now, you're wrong. The Broncos and Tim Tebow went into the playoffs last year and beat the vaunted Steelers, without Peyton Manning. They were good before he ever showed up. The Vikings were horrible without Peterson. Horrible. Thus, he must be your MVP.

Alleged "Experts"

I do this every year, I like to see how the handicappers in our pool measure up to the highly paid analysts who do this on TV and the internet. For the first time in a long time, several pundits did outpick us. Take a look:

Wickersham, ESPN 179-77

Mortensen, ESPN 178-78

Mike Silver, Yahoo Sports 175-81

Patrick686, CPP 170-85-1

Chris Carter, ESPN 169-87

Monjon, CPP 168-87-1
Phanatic Philly Phan, CPP 168-87-1
Yahoo Users 168-88

Smitty201, CPP 167-88-1
Gregslo, CPP 167-88-1
Leo Woods, CPP 167-88-1

Mike Florio, Profootballtalk 163-88-1

And hey, even Bulldogs Rule, down at 152-103-1, were about as good as Keyshawn Johnson at ESPN, who was 154-102, but really was 153-102-1 with the tie. So, congrats to everyone. Nice job. Nobody embarassed themselves.

There you have it. The 2012 regular season is complete.

As Bruce Willis so famously said in the movie "The Siege", "I intend to finish this operation and be back on base in time for the Playoffs."

I suggest you do the same!