Rex Ryan and his mean green machine are rolling into a town near you. As if such a carnival of chiding could go unnoticed…
The Jets have been the bully-boys of the AFC for the past two seasons now. Their trash talking ways have moved them past the Steelers – who themselves have taken on a rather quiet, but menacing persona – in the fear factor rankings. They’ve always appeared like a punk kid when compared to the bookish sophistication of long-time division rivals and perennial playoff participants, the New England Patriots. And just like a punk, they get angry when things don’t go their way, they whinge and moan and spit out their dummy for all to see. And they don’t apologise.
They just piss you off.
And you know what? In a league of such relative parity, having that mental edge is often all you need to win. The Jets wind up their opponents something rotten, and they are frequently rewarded for it. The moment the fear scrapes the surface, the Jets have won.
However, things are different this year. The guys used to being on the wrong end of a New York beat-down are suddenly all juiced up. It’s like beating up the geeky kid on the last day of school before going away for summer and returning to find he’s had a bicep-centric growth spurt.
The Texans are contenders. There’s no way the playoffs won’t be featuring both the Steelers and the Ravens. The Patriots look unstoppable. And even the Bills and the Browns and the god damn Raiders look capable of putting a spanner in the works for the presumptive Jets.
Will they make the playoffs? They should do, but navigating the hungry young teams won’t be easy.
Verdict: they should finish in the mix for sixth seed with maybe a 10-6 record. I think they’ll make it by the skin of their teeth.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
New Orleans Saints
Here’s a team primed for a deep playoff run, despite having to contend with divisional rivals like the Falcons, the up-and-coming Buccaneers and the unpredictable Carolina Panthers.
The Saints have one of the best passers in the league and the addition of Darren Sproles at RB, means this team is stacked with top-notch starters and quality roster players.
Their defence, although lacking star power, is extremely well organised and should be able to contain the trip of young Quarterbacks in the NFC South.
The Saints’ memorable run to the Superbowl is now a thing of history. A whole season and a new champion stand between this beloved team and their finest hour, so the time to bask in the glory is past. Now it’s down to business. How far can the Saints go and will they achieve the heights of the 2009 season?
Verdict: Top of the division with an 11-5 and likely second or third seed in the conference. I would like to think a 12-4 is attainable and that it would be enough for the number two spot. But the Saints will be in the playoffs and could well be the last team standing in Green Bay’s way of getting back to the big show.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
The Saints have one of the best passers in the league and the addition of Darren Sproles at RB, means this team is stacked with top-notch starters and quality roster players.
Their defence, although lacking star power, is extremely well organised and should be able to contain the trip of young Quarterbacks in the NFC South.
The Saints’ memorable run to the Superbowl is now a thing of history. A whole season and a new champion stand between this beloved team and their finest hour, so the time to bask in the glory is past. Now it’s down to business. How far can the Saints go and will they achieve the heights of the 2009 season?
Verdict: Top of the division with an 11-5 and likely second or third seed in the conference. I would like to think a 12-4 is attainable and that it would be enough for the number two spot. But the Saints will be in the playoffs and could well be the last team standing in Green Bay’s way of getting back to the big show.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Monday, 29 August 2011
New England Patriots
Tom Terrific and the Brady Bunch are back in a big way. A hugely disappointing end to last season has done little to disrupt the Massachusetts Machine that is running as smoothly as ever. With the addition of Chad Ochocinco from the Bengals and Albert Haynesworth from the Redskins, Belichick has put his faith in his reputation being big enough to quieten these two stars, both of whom have found trouble elsewhere.
Nobody messes with the Patriots model – just look what happened to Randy Moss last year. One of the major reasons the team went 16-0 throughout the 2007 regular season was turfed-out on his ear for biting the hand that had fed him so generously.
They play in a very competitive division, but they have the measure of their rivals. Buffalo looked good in the preseason, Miami are due a break-out but probably not this year and the New York Jets will make the playoffs, but likely as runners-up to the Pats. Either way, the Patriots’ postseason pedigree still outshines the Jets’ despite the identical endings both their previous 2 seasons have suffered.
I like the Patriots to meet the Texans in the AFC Championship game and to run out winners.
Verdict: Superbowl champs for the fourth time in 10 years. (14-2)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Nobody messes with the Patriots model – just look what happened to Randy Moss last year. One of the major reasons the team went 16-0 throughout the 2007 regular season was turfed-out on his ear for biting the hand that had fed him so generously.
They play in a very competitive division, but they have the measure of their rivals. Buffalo looked good in the preseason, Miami are due a break-out but probably not this year and the New York Jets will make the playoffs, but likely as runners-up to the Pats. Either way, the Patriots’ postseason pedigree still outshines the Jets’ despite the identical endings both their previous 2 seasons have suffered.
I like the Patriots to meet the Texans in the AFC Championship game and to run out winners.
Verdict: Superbowl champs for the fourth time in 10 years. (14-2)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Minnesota Vikings
Sometimes, sport is just plain cruel. Along with the Buffalo Bills, the Minnesota Vikings have lost more Superbowls without winning a single title than any other team.
Forced to contend with Brett Favre for years, when the legendary gunslinger was quarterbacking for long-time division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, they snapped him up when he retired for the second time from the New York Jets.
With the aging maestro enjoying one his deepest ‘purple’ patches, the Vikings suddenly became Superbowl contenders. With the addition of stellar running back, Adrian Peterson, the Vikings were strong all over the field.
Predictably they made it to the NFC Championship game only to encounter their worst nightmare.
They leapt out to a 14-7 first quarter lead and despite out gaining the Saints 475 yards to 257, 3 fumbles and 2 interceptions from Favre cost them the chance to wrap up the game and, tied at 28 a piece, the two best teams of the year headed to overtime and the Vikings headed towards defeat by the boot of Saints kicker, Garrett Hartley.
Favre came back and tried to repeat the magic but, despite bolstering his NFL all-time records in Touchdown passes, Interceptions and consecutive games started for a Quarterback, he faded badly and, at long last, succumbed to the wear-and-tear of a long and hard-fought career, sitting out his first game and signalling the end of the fairytale.
The Vikings knew things were going to change, but they couldn’t have expected the collapse of the entire unit, which is exactly what has happened.
The Christian Ponder era has begun. The interesting draft choice could well be the future, but he is not the now. Right now the Vikings are in trouble and, remarkably given their recent form, they are my shout to finish bottom of the NFC North.
Verdict: cruel, cruel, cruel – the Vikings are going to have to wait a long time for that elusive first Championship. They are really bad this year: it’s not that they lack talent, they simply don’t know how to use it, and I don’t think Ponder will be able to handle Favre’s greyed mantle. Good luck, but no hope – a real candidate for the number one pick. I’m going bold: 3-13, bottom of the North and selecting early on the first day come April.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Forced to contend with Brett Favre for years, when the legendary gunslinger was quarterbacking for long-time division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, they snapped him up when he retired for the second time from the New York Jets.
With the aging maestro enjoying one his deepest ‘purple’ patches, the Vikings suddenly became Superbowl contenders. With the addition of stellar running back, Adrian Peterson, the Vikings were strong all over the field.
Predictably they made it to the NFC Championship game only to encounter their worst nightmare.
They leapt out to a 14-7 first quarter lead and despite out gaining the Saints 475 yards to 257, 3 fumbles and 2 interceptions from Favre cost them the chance to wrap up the game and, tied at 28 a piece, the two best teams of the year headed to overtime and the Vikings headed towards defeat by the boot of Saints kicker, Garrett Hartley.
Favre came back and tried to repeat the magic but, despite bolstering his NFL all-time records in Touchdown passes, Interceptions and consecutive games started for a Quarterback, he faded badly and, at long last, succumbed to the wear-and-tear of a long and hard-fought career, sitting out his first game and signalling the end of the fairytale.
The Vikings knew things were going to change, but they couldn’t have expected the collapse of the entire unit, which is exactly what has happened.
The Christian Ponder era has begun. The interesting draft choice could well be the future, but he is not the now. Right now the Vikings are in trouble and, remarkably given their recent form, they are my shout to finish bottom of the NFC North.
Verdict: cruel, cruel, cruel – the Vikings are going to have to wait a long time for that elusive first Championship. They are really bad this year: it’s not that they lack talent, they simply don’t know how to use it, and I don’t think Ponder will be able to handle Favre’s greyed mantle. Good luck, but no hope – a real candidate for the number one pick. I’m going bold: 3-13, bottom of the North and selecting early on the first day come April.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Miami Dolphins
In theory, the Dolphins have gotten better in the off-season. With the arrival of Reggie Bush, and the presence of Brandon Marshall – two players I believe could command a feature role on the very best in the league – the pressure on young QB, Chad Henne should be lessened.
Henne’s play is still a big question mark, and one I believe will be answered this season. Initially Henne’s performances impressed, but he is yet to take that next step towards becoming a solid NFL starter.
He can throw the football, but having to play the Patriots defence in week one will be a challenge. I believe he’ll do well, but only time will tell.
There’s talent on this team and I think Tony Sparano, their coach, has a lot of quality to offer the NFL, but I wonder whether he would benefit from yet more time in a coordinator’s role. At 49 he is still relatively young for an NFL coach and has an unimpressive career record of 25-22. Miami is the first pro team he has led, and a young team and a young coach often fail to get the best from each other.
Verdict: Either last or tied third with the Bills in the AFC East. I reckon they are going to really struggle in that division, but should snap-up a few scalps along the way. 6-10 for this explosive/implosive outfit.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Henne’s play is still a big question mark, and one I believe will be answered this season. Initially Henne’s performances impressed, but he is yet to take that next step towards becoming a solid NFL starter.
He can throw the football, but having to play the Patriots defence in week one will be a challenge. I believe he’ll do well, but only time will tell.
There’s talent on this team and I think Tony Sparano, their coach, has a lot of quality to offer the NFL, but I wonder whether he would benefit from yet more time in a coordinator’s role. At 49 he is still relatively young for an NFL coach and has an unimpressive career record of 25-22. Miami is the first pro team he has led, and a young team and a young coach often fail to get the best from each other.
Verdict: Either last or tied third with the Bills in the AFC East. I reckon they are going to really struggle in that division, but should snap-up a few scalps along the way. 6-10 for this explosive/implosive outfit.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Indianapolis Colts
A power shift is occurring in the AFC South. Rumours abound that Peyton Manning will undergo further neck surgery that could completely prevent him from featuring in the 2011 campaign.
If Manning is unable to play for the whole or even part of the season, the Colts will struggle. They could even hit rock bottom of a group that contains the surging Texans, the ever capable Titans, and a Jags unit playing for their coach’s career.
The Colts haven’t missed out on the playoffs since 2001, but this year January could be without the Blue and White.
So will I be sad to see them go? No, not really. Good as Manning is, and as beneficial to the league and its many rivalries as his presence has been, the Colts mechanical capitulation in the playoffs sometimes makes their whole season seem…well, a bit boring, really. A younger, spikier team might shake things up a little more. And that’s what I like.
Verdict: a shocking season and their worst record for over 13 years. Things probably won’t be as bad as Manning’s debut 3-13 season in 1998, but a 4-12 doesn’t seem out of the question. A rough time for a fan-base accustomed to the high-life.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
If Manning is unable to play for the whole or even part of the season, the Colts will struggle. They could even hit rock bottom of a group that contains the surging Texans, the ever capable Titans, and a Jags unit playing for their coach’s career.
The Colts haven’t missed out on the playoffs since 2001, but this year January could be without the Blue and White.
So will I be sad to see them go? No, not really. Good as Manning is, and as beneficial to the league and its many rivalries as his presence has been, the Colts mechanical capitulation in the playoffs sometimes makes their whole season seem…well, a bit boring, really. A younger, spikier team might shake things up a little more. And that’s what I like.
Verdict: a shocking season and their worst record for over 13 years. Things probably won’t be as bad as Manning’s debut 3-13 season in 1998, but a 4-12 doesn’t seem out of the question. A rough time for a fan-base accustomed to the high-life.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Houston Texans
Now here’s a team on the bubble! It is impossible not to like what the Texans are doing right now, and that Coach Kubiak is still the one telling them to do it!
The Texans have been on the cusp for a while now, and near misses the last couple of seasons heaped real pressure of the Coach. But the ownership kept their cool and appreciated that Kubiak was taking the team in the right direction. They gave him time to finish what he started, and boy, is it about to pay off.
I gurantee you will see results from the Texans this year. They’ll beat big teams and not fluff it against the smaller ones. They won’t go undefeated, but there won’t be any nightmare run for them that leaves their playoff hopes dangling.
They will win the AFC South for the first time in their history.
They will make the playoffs for the first time in their history.
How far will they go?
Verdict: the new kids on the block will race through the regular season and secure a 1-4 seed (I’ll go with 2) with a 12-4 record. They will lose to New England in the AFC Championship game.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
The Texans have been on the cusp for a while now, and near misses the last couple of seasons heaped real pressure of the Coach. But the ownership kept their cool and appreciated that Kubiak was taking the team in the right direction. They gave him time to finish what he started, and boy, is it about to pay off.
I gurantee you will see results from the Texans this year. They’ll beat big teams and not fluff it against the smaller ones. They won’t go undefeated, but there won’t be any nightmare run for them that leaves their playoff hopes dangling.
They will win the AFC South for the first time in their history.
They will make the playoffs for the first time in their history.
How far will they go?
Verdict: the new kids on the block will race through the regular season and secure a 1-4 seed (I’ll go with 2) with a 12-4 record. They will lose to New England in the AFC Championship game.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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