The Patriots D scares me

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Patriots defense scares the living heck out of me. I live by the old cliche that defense wins championships. If that is the case, than the Patriots have no chance of winning the Super Bowl. Before any of you out there start yelling at me, I know the Patriots played a "vanilla", or base 3-4 defense throughout the majority of the preseason. I know that, and that's not what I'm basing my opinion on. I'm basing my opinion on several important factors.

1. Proven starters on defense - Vince Wilfork is the only proven starter on defense for the Patriots. You can say what you want about Brandon Merriweather, but if anything he's been a very inconsistent player. He shouldn't have made the pro bowl last year, and I really think he's a bit overrated at this point. That doesn't mean I don't like him, or think he can be a very good player in the NFL. Same thing goes for Jerod Mayo. He showed great promise his rookie season, but was injured a good portion of last season. I'd actually say he's their 2nd best player on defense, but he's still young and untested for the most part.

2. Lack of Pass Rush - I'm not talking about sacks here. I am talking about the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. You don't necessarily have to sack the quarterback, and agree with BB that sacks numbers are overrated. Besides Tully Banta-Cain, who had 5 of his team leading 10 sacks against the Bills last year, who else will provide the pass rush? Derrick Burgess maybe, but don't count on the likes of Gerard Warren, Mike Wright or Ron Brace from the defensive line position.

3. Defensive Secondary - Long term I love the Pats secondary. After hating the Devin McCourty pick, I think he looks like a legit NFL corner. I love his size, his toughness and nose for the ball. I also realize how hard it is to play corner in the NFL as a rookie. I like Darius Butler, but having a rookie and 2nd year man at the corners scares me. Merriweather is a good safety, but needs to be consistent with his play. After struggling to start his rookie season, I really like the strides Patrick, don't call me Eugene, Chung has made. Ultimately the lack of pass rush will lead to struggles for the secondary. I do expect them to improve as the season goes on and they learn to play together.

Even with all that, I predict the Patriots to go 10-6 this season and narrowly win the AFC East yet again. I'm not sold on the Jets, and actually think the Dolphins may be a bigger threat in the division. The offense will be so good they'll help win games when the defense lets them down. Unfortunately, you might see the same thing happen in the playoffs as last years debacle against the Ravens. Because I try to be a positive guy, I want to end on a high note. The Pats have made some very good draft picks on defense in the past two years. I like Butler, Chung, McCourty and Spikes. I look forward to seeing what Jermaine Cunningham can do when he gets healthy. He may be able to add some help to the pass rush. Ron Brace, after being a disaster his rookie season, really showed us something this preseason. Just like the secondary, the Pats defense could return to their glory days in the years to come, especially since they have 2 first round and 2 second round picks next season.

All we can do now is hold on for the wild ride of the NFL season.

Here's What I Have To Say

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here's what I have to say about the world of sports.

1. Man, the New England Patriots look pretty good so far. I know it's only preseason and I shouldn't put much stock in it, but the Pats appear to have some pretty nice pieces in place, including rookies and young guys that are being counted on to produce in order for them to be a playoff team, or better yet a Super Bowl contender.
2. Roger Clemens, guilty or innocent? Wonder if I'll be able to visit the Rocket when he goes behind bars? Still love the guy, however. Best pitcher I'll see in my lifetime.
3. Tim Tebow, like him or hate him? Better questions is: Will he be a good pro quarterback? You know my stance, still.
4. Shaq wearing Green. I like it, but aren't we all wondering just how much the big man has left in the tank? If his minutes are monitored, I still think he can be productive in the low post. It's not like anyone can move him out of the way, either.
5. Who's your preseason pick to win the Vince Lombardi trophy? I'm still not waivering with my Baltimore Ravens pick.
6. Brett Favre might be all about himself, but there aren't many other quarterbacks that are better than him currently in the league (Brady, Manning, Brees, Rivers and Rodgers, no doubt are).
7. I still don't believe that the Red Sox are toast. With the staff they have, you can't bury them yet. Or can you?
8. Yankees or Rays? Who will win the AL East? Stay tuned. If the Yankees can get Andy Pettitte back in the rotation pretty soon, I'm saying Yankees. If not, Rays win the division and Yanks will be the wild card.
9. No. 1 pick in all Fantasy Football Drafts should be Chris Johnson from the Titans. But he's also my burnout player of the year candidate because he got worked over last year. Remember the Dirty Bird himself, Jamal Anderson, who blew out his knees after toting the pigskin way too much in one season for the Atlanta Falcons. I don't wish injuries on anyone, but Johnson owners might be a tad worried this season.
10. Can anyone explain to me how the Cowboys are the sexy pick to win the NFC crown and potentially win the Super Bowl? Romo is still the signal-caller on the 'Boys, right? Enough said.

Thank God football is finally here

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Excuse me if I had a little bit more spring in my step all day long.

Well, football will do that to me.

Just think about it. If I'm jumping around like a jack rabbit about watching preseason football, imagine what I'm like when the regular season begins?

Anyway, just like Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll always likes to say, right now I'm "Pumped and jacked."

Granted, I love Major League Baseball, but there's just something about that pigskin that puts an instant smile on my face.

These offseasons just get longer and longer, don't they? I know they're not, but it sure seems like that when you wish 12 months out of the year featured the NFL.

Watching the football get thrown around by Tom Brady last night quickly got me into the holiday spirit. Yes, football season is a holiday. Some like Christmas (so do I), but I also get giddy over football.

The ball is currently in motion. Now, I'm already thinking fantasy football, checking out patriots.com for the latest gear being sold, and I'm already thinking regular season.

The season is almost here, and it might seem weird to some, but I'm already counting down the days until the opening kickoff on Sept. 12 at home vs. Terrell Owens and the Bengals.

I am pumped and jacked. I know Pete Carroll knows how I feel.

Favre still fun to watch

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't worry, Brett Favre will be returning to Minnesota.

I know the reports out there are circulating that he's retiring, but do you really believe that?

Favre isn't a washed up bum, he's got a lot left in the tank. He know that, too. He knows that he's not a stiff like half -- OK, more than half -- of the starting QBs in the league. Favre knows he's still a threat to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

He also knows he gets off hearing his name in the media. All the time.

He's a small-town guy with a big-time ego.

Isn't that common knowledge, anyway?

It's OK, really.

I don't mind that Favre's ego is bigger than Gillette Stadium. He's a millionaire, a legend and a Super Bowl champion. Sure beats my resume.

And, unlike so many Favre haters out there, I hope he comes back to play.

He's great for the game. He's a Hall of Fame QB, and he's fun to watch play.

Yes, he's fun. I love watching Favre do things that no QB coach in America will teach a young signal-caller. But he gets it done most of the time, unlike some other sub-par QBs. Favre is like 100 years old and he's got a shotgun for an arm.

And he loves to show it off, too, and sometimes that gets him into a lot of trouble. Yes, it's fun watching him throw INTs in gigantic playoff games. He's human, not superman. We all should know that.

Say what you want about him, but no one can question that he loves the game of football. It shows in the way he plays.

For that, I respect him completely.

Another year of the Brett Favre soap opera, I'm fine with that.

Are you?

Season over, thanks for playing

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's all over.

No need to play out the rest of the season, right Red Sox fans?

I know, Kevin Youkilis is apparently out for the season with a torn thumb muscle, so now it's OK to give up. Seriously?

Yes, the sky has fallen.

Time to pack up the bus, and look forward to next season.

I just can't believe that so many Red Sox fans have completely given up on the season already. This team has battled and battled all year with so many injuries, and with a pitching staff like they have, who's to say they can't make a run at the wild card?

But to sit there and say that the season is a complete wash now, since Youk isn't going to be around, I just can't buy into that at all.

Injuries happen all the time, it's part of the game. Yes, it would be nice to think about how this team would be if these guys didn't keep going on the DL, but you play with what you've got. These subs get paid, too, now it's time for everyone to step up.

The season isn't over. Smarten up.

Do you have your popcorn yet?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Get your popcorn ready.

Well, in Cincinnati, the show has already started.

That's the T.O. show, featuring Terrell Owens.

The Bengals now have their popcorn ready at all times.

Now that Owens is officially a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, I'm sitting here wondering how that team is going to be this season. Better yet, what is going to happen on and off the field with that cast of characters.

If you thought Chad Ochocinco was a handful or even T.O., now it's definitely reality television at its finest with both those flamboyant receivers on the same team.

Quarterback Carson Palmer must be excited to throw to both those talents, but also nervous at the same time because of the unexpected element both those guys bring to any team.

Man, this is going to be quite the show. And I bet we'll see more than enough coverage from all angles on the Bengals and how T.O. and Ocho are meshing together.

On paper, the Bengals just got a whole lot better. Actually, they are going to be great on offense with T.O., Ocho and Antonio Bryant as the top three receivers. What secondary in the NFL can stop that trio? Nobody.

But this ship could come crashing down in a hurry if the losses start piling up. When that happens, the problems in the locker room and on and off the field begin to spill over into the hands of the media.

And that's when we've got to get our popcorn ready.

If you ask me right now, the Bengals are a legit playoff team.

New England Patriots fans will get an up close and personal look at Cincinnati when the two teams square off in the season opener on Sept. 12 in Foxboro.

Make sure you get some popcorn when you enter the stadium!

The Big East: Looking for BCS legitimacy.

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(Note: This is the first in a series of previews of the 'major' conferences in college football, including the BCS conferences - the Big East, the Big 10, the Big 12, the ACC, the SEC and the Pac-10 - as well as the Mountain West Conference, the Western Athletic Conference and the Independents.)

While the rest of college football was dealing with the issue of expansion and realignment, the Big East was going through its own changes. Conference champion Cincinnati lost head coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, while South Florida and Louisville also welcomed new coaches. But in general, things were quiet in the Big East. As usual, the conference is looking to gain some legitimacy for its BCS status. It didn't help itself by sending Cincinnati to get slaughtered in the Sugar Bowl, nor West Virginia help by losing to a seemingly weaker Florida State team. However, Pittsburgh did top a talented, yet inconsistent North Carolina, while UConn and Rutgers also won their bowl games.

The Bearcats followed Kelly to a 12-1, 7-0 record and a spot in the Sugar Bowl. Kelly was lured away by the Fighting Irish and without him, Cincinnati folded like a card table, losing to Florida, 51-24. Cincinnati turned once again to Central Michigan for its head coach, plucking the Chippewas' head coach to run the same offense that was run before. Zach Collaros is primed to have one of the best statistical seasons in college football, having a great deal of experience after having to fill in for Tony Pike right in the middle of the season. What's more, he's mobile, adding a whole new dimension to the Bearcats' offense. For that reason - and a manageable schedule - the Bearcats still have a decent chance of making something of themselves this season.

Pittsburgh, however, has to be the favorite in this league. After all, Pitt came ever so close to winning last year's game, snagging a 31-10 lead over Cincinnati before blowing it in the final game. Pitt has two tremendous running backs in Dion Lewis, who racked up nearly 2,000 total yards and 18 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman and Ray Graham. Tino Sunseri is a question mark at quarterback, but the Panthers will be just fine as long as he doesn't make stupid mistakes and turn the ball over. The Panthers still have a very tough defense, including one of the best defensive lines in the country.

West Virginia has a veteran team and once again should have its nose in the middle of things this year, but how far will they actually get? Noel Devine is the most talented offensive weapon and is behind an experienced offensive line and its defense should actually be a major strength this season. Like Pittsburgh, the defensive line is very strong and so are the linebackers. The question mark is at quarterback. Geno Smith, a sophomore, will take the reigns from Bill Stull with Pat White's little brother Coley backing him up. While Devine will be leaned upon, the QB needs to be able to provide some kind of balance.

Connecticut could be a darkhorse in this race after having one of the best 7-5 regular-season records in college football history. Not only did they have a very challenging schedule, but the Huskies lost one of their own in heartbreaking fashion. They lost to the four toughest teams on their schedule, but all of those losses came by four points or less. They lost to No. 19 UNC by two points, to Pitt by three, to No. 23 West Virginia by four and to No. 5 Cincinnati by two. This year, the schedule is much more forgiving, including games against Pitt, WVU and Cincinnati all at home. Jordan Todman is ready to take over as a feature back after splitting the carries with Andre Dixon last year, but just in case, the Huskies brought in D.J. Shoemate, who transferred in from USC after the punishments from the NCAA came down. Like the Mountaineers, the Huskies need to create some balance in their offense in order to take their game to the next level.

Predicted Big East Standings:
1. Pittsburgh
2. West Virginia
3. Connecticut
4. Cincinnati
5. Rutgers
6. South Florida
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse