Another mediocre week for the Guru. Tsk Tsk. 7-6-1. Nobody wins in ties. NOBODY. Shame on you NFL. Shame.
Happy Turkey Day folks.
For that reason, and that reason alone, I won’t hold you long with my prologue.
Just a few quick thoughts and then I will give you my picks.
First off, lets address this Packers/Vikings tie from last week. Reports came out after the game, that a few players had no clue the game could end in a tie. Players should know the rules, but anyway thats a side issue.
In totality, they are correct. The game shouldn’t end in a tie. The NFL says that games should not continue longer than one 15 minute overtime session because of…Player Safety….BOGUS.
That makes no sense at all. So are you telling me that player safety isn’t a concern in the playoffs? Those games can’t end in ties. It’s the same principle.
Furthermore, the amount of time of the overtime session doesn’t directly affect player safety. Total number of plays, NOT time determines if player safety would be affected by an extra overtime period.
If teams can run 120 snaps in 4 quarters, and in 4 quarters plus an overtime in a different game, only 85 snaps are run from scrimmage, the amount of time is a moot point when it comes to player safety.
My point is this!
Anybody see the Navajo Code Talkers all dressed in Redskin apparel Monday night as they were honored for service to the country?
Three words. Dan Snyder GENIUS. Score 1 for the NFL.
(Per ESPN) – “The nation’s largest youth football program, Pop Warner, saw participation drop 9.5 percent between 2010-12, a sign that the concussion crisis that began in the NFL is having a dramatic impact at the lowest rungs of the sport. According to data provided to “Outside the Lines,” Pop Warner lost 23,612 players, thought to be the largest two-year decline since the organization began keeping statistics decades ago. Consistent annual growth led to a record 248,899 players participating in Pop Warner in 2010; that figure fell to 225,287 by the 2012 season.”
One SIMPLE message to parents of Pop Warner parents. RELAX. Your kids aren’t at a level where they have a high risk for concussion by playing Pop Warner football.
The ex-players who are having these issues after football due to concussions are the first breed that have been talked about with these life changing conditions. Information was withheld from them. Medical staffs were not as advanced as they are now.
The worst is behind us. I think. If twenty years down the line, players are still retiring and having depression issues, then there may be a problem to worry about. However, at this point, it seems as if the issue has been addressed and is being handled by the NFL appropriately, let’s not get all up in arms about how barbaric football is just yet.
So go check the facts parents, because your CHEERLEADING daughter is at more risk from being seriously injured than your FOOTBALL playing son. Yup.
PICK TIME
#GuruSays
#TurkeyBowl
2013-2014 Season picks record
Upset Special (4-8)
GuruDAMNtee (7-5)
Last Week (7-6-1)
Overall (100-75-1)
Packers 30 @ Lions 23
Raiders 14 @ Cowboys 28
Steelers 26 @ Ravens 24
Jaguars 24 @ Browns 23
Bucs 17 @ Panthers 27
Bears 20 @ Vikings 17
Patriots 41 @ Texans 20
Titans 23 @ Colts 31
Dolphins 20 @ Jets 17
Cardinals 26 @ Eagles 27
Falcons 19 @ Bills 21
*Rams 30 @ 49ers 27* Upset Special
Bengals 21 @ Chargers 31
Broncos 28 @ Chiefs 30
Giants 30 @ Redskins 10
*Saints 24 @ Seahawks 28* GuruDAMNtee
I’ll take the Rams over the Niners in CANDLESTICK as my Upset Special. This is a long shot and would be a helluva feat for St. Louis to pull off.
However, than can do it. Tavon Austin has finally emerged as the baller we all thought he could be, and even after that win in Washington the Niners along with Kap aren’t as good as they should be.
Give me the HAWKS with my “GuruDAMNtee” this week. New Orleans NEEDS this game or else they might very well find themselves on the road to start the playoffs. But, Seattle is unbeatable at home.
Ehhh, tough for me to go against em with the 12th man cheering them on.
I’ll go with the Packers on Turkey Day over the Lions. Vegas has Detroit as 6 point favorites, but Matt Flynn stepped in and played well last week. This week he gets the start, and he’ll get the win.
Give me Pittsburgh over Baltimore this week. I just really like the poise of that Steeler team.
Ever since the “Big Ben wants out” rumors circulated, it seemed like Ben decided he had something to prove. They will get the best of Flacco and the Ravens.
My how the mighty have fallen, the Texans were a preseason Super Bowl favorite and now, well, umm, yeah.
Tom Brady is going to eat these guys alive. Give me the Patriots by a ton. This one might….WILL get ugly. Cardinals @ Philly is very intriguing. I’m giving the edge to the Eagles because they are at home and Nick Foles is making great decisions with the ball lately.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Carson Palmer goes and eeks out a win.
WHY DID GIANTS/REDSKINS not get FLEXED?? WHY WHY WHY???
Finally, the Chiefs and Broncos go back at it again this week. Man do the Chiefs need this win more than ever. I think they get it, and avoid losing 3 straight.
Thursday is a day for good food and spending time with family, but most of all FOOTBALL. So, on behalf of everyone at SportsMinded. Happy Thanksgiving and….COURAGE
Sports Minded 