Red Sox fans need to calm down

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Relax.

That's the message I have for any Major League Baseball fan that has hit the panic button already.

This goes out, especially, to all these Red Sox fans -- and I use the phrase "fans" loosely -- who are also saying that this ballclub stinks.

Yes, they haven't played well during their 0-3 start against Texas this year, but as we all know, this is a very long season.

It's a marathon of 162 games, not a sprint. Teams will hit ups and down all season long. The Sox are on a mini-skid right now, but there's no need to panic.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be upset that your beloved Red Sox have started the season losing three straight, but just take a chill pill for a second and realize that this isn't the end of the world.

This team has talent throughout the lineup. Talent typically prevails in any sport.

If you want to start pointing fingers at certain players who haven't done well yet, then here goes -- Bard, Buchholz, Lester, Lackey and Crawford.

Besides Lackey, any team in the majors would be glad to trade for anyone on that list above. So if you want to run them out of town, that's fine, too, considering they all stink anyway.

Being a fan is a wonderful thing. But being a "fan" that has absolutely no clue about the sport just ticks me off to no end.

And sorry to say, if you think this Red Sox team "stinks" then you don't know jack about baseball.

Chad vs Jim: Super Bowl Picks

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, the final game of the season is here, and if you're like me you are seriously hoping this isn't the last NFL game we see for a long time. Entering the Super Bowl I have a playoff record of 6-4 and Chad is 5-5. In my opinion, A winning pick for the Super Bowl is more important that anything else, so if Chad picks the winner, than he wins for the Playoffs. Now, onto the Picks

Jim's Pick;

Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24

Chad's Pick:

Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers 24-20

I think this is going to be a great game either way, so enjoy!

Get ready to apologize to Cutler, if he did tear his MCL

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Mind you, I'm not a Jay Cutler fan.

I think he's an average QB at best, and he makes way too many poor decisions for my liking.

But I'm really sick of everyone bashing him, especially after yesterday's loss in the NFC Championship game to the Green Bay Packers.

Yes, I was amazed when Cutler was yanked out of the game with an apparent knee injury.

Of course, just like everyone, I was thinking that he was soft for not being under center, but I also thought that if he was really hurt, I could completely understand that he wasn't in the game.

You know, if you simply can't help your team on the field -- due to poor play or injury -- I don't think you should be on the field.

That's the bottom line.

But Cutler got murdered in the media yesterday. From the talking heads on television to NFL players on Twitter, everyone had something really negative to say about Cutler.

But if all the reports are true now -- that Cutler has an MCL tear -- then people better apologize for accusing Cutler of wimping out and not battling to the end with his ballclub.

And I don't care what kind of tear he's got, if he's got any kind of MCL ligament tear, I'm backing him 100 percent.

This guy has been abused more in the media -- albeit some has been brought on himself -- than most, but it's only right to defend him if he's in the right.

Most will agree that Cutler will never be an elite QB, but no one's heart and desire to play the game should ever be questioned without merit.

If, indeed, he did tear something, no wonder why the Chicago coaching staff wouldn't let him back into the game.

Shame on everyone who questioned his heart. Can't wait to hear and read all the apologizes, if he did suffer an MCL tear. Even then, he'll still get tooled on, and that's not right at all.

Chad vs Jim: NFL Championship Round Playoff Picks

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, last week was a disastrous week in the NFL playoffs for me, and for many reasons. Of course the main reason is the Patriots loss to the Jets, but it also hurt to 1-3 on the weekend with my picks. Chad fared better with a 2-2 record left. I now have a 1 game lead as I am 4-4 and Chad is 3-5. This week will not help as we are picking the same teams. See below and make sure you check for our Super Bowl picks in two weeks.

FFS Fantasy Playoff Challenge: Divisional Round Standings

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I apologize for being late in getting the results for the weekend out, but I can guess most of you have somewhat of a football hangover after that awful Pats game. Anyway, here are the results so far.

Quote of the Day

THIS HUMBLE PIE TASTES LIKE FEET --Chad Garner, Fan Fanatic Sports

Jets deserve to talk because they embarrassed the Patriots

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So what, the New York Jets like to talk a lot of trash.

Well, if they can back it up, then it really doesn't matter, right?

And the Jets backed it up -- in a big way -- to knock off the Super Bowl-favorite Patriots out of the playoffs.

And the Jets really sent a message: The Pats aren't unbeatable.

Simply put, New England couldn't do a darn thing right, while the Jets did everything right.

The Jets won all the battles, especially on defense by confusing the Pats and QB Tom Brady with multiple coverages that Jets coach Rex Ryan drew up in the sand during the week.

Ryan devised a plan to confuse, and it worked to perfection. Man coverage looks were really zone; zone looks were really man-to-man. By the time the Pats adjusted --oh, yeah, they never did -- the game was over.

Tip of the hat to Ryan, he outcoached Bill Belichick in a big way -- much bigger than Ryan's mouth and gut, too. Ryan deserves all the kudos in this game, he got his team to believe in the team and plan, while the Pats completely pooped their pants in every part of the game.

Mark Sanchez outplayed Brady --that wouldn't happen 99 out of the 100 times, either. Same for the Jets' defense that had five sacks and a pick, while the Pats defensed didn't show up and had a chance to deliver when the Pats cut the deficit to 3 points, but quickly let the Jets burst down the field and make it a 10-point lead.

New England's key threats -- Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Benjarvis Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead -- got taught a lesson in making big plays by the Jets' key threats like Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, LT and Shonn Greeene.

It was a total failure, a total team collapse and gigantic choke.

The Patriots best player yesterday was hands-down punter Zoltan Mesko, who averaged 47 yards on four punts, including bombing a 55-yarder. At least he didn't crumble under the spotlight.

If you still ask me, the Pats are still the best team in the NFL, but in these one-game situations, you must play well to advances and if you don't, well, just ask the Pats that today.

It's a shame that the Pats played their worst game of the season on the biggest stage. They've got some young guys that got some great experience this year, however, so plan on the Pats returning to the playoffs next year. They've got a solid team, but must address both sides of the line in the draft this season.

It's not all gloom and doom in New England. Yes, this loss hurts, but we're very lucky to have a team like the Pats to cheer for. We could live in Buffalo and never get a sniff of the playoffs, you know.

But Rex Ryan and Jets got the last laugh this year. They can talk all they want because they backed it up. They deserved to win, too. This humble pie tastes like feet.

The long offseason has already started. And it's going to be a LONG offseason.