week 14 picks

What’s there left to be said about this past week’s occurrences? I believe everyone’s had a chance to weigh in and the majority of the population will agree that it was one of the stupidest things that any person could do, much less athletes. These days, access is relative to money. The more money you have, the more access you can get. So Plax, fresh off a new extension, had more access than your average athlete. Especially in a city where he is beloved and remembered for just months prior, catching the winning TD in the Super Bowl. I don’t need to tell you how sports crazed this town is, and how they worship their heroes when they bring home championships.

But this was a self inflicted wound the kind that when Plax reflects upon his life will regret. Its unfortunate, because he’s not this thug that people want to imagine when they hear about this incident. His teammates talk about him highly. Even after getting into that nonsense, he was talking to Domenik Hixon about coverages and how to get good releases. I’m an eternal optimist so I want to look at the good in any person, but at the same time, when someone throws common sense out the window, and mixes it with alcohol, I have no patience to hear their explanation.

Do the Giants need Plax? No. No team ever needs another player that badly if they are this much of a distraction. Remember, this is not his first trip around the block with legal proceedings and fines. He has a problem with authority and once in a while lashes out, and this is just karma getting back at him. He faces about 3-5 years mandatory, but despite all of the Mayor’s posturing suggesting that he get hammered by the law, he’ll probably be free as much as he was last January against Al Harris.

I am tired of hearing about this so if we can, let’s assess this week’s games:

Chargers (-9) over Raiders- I wanted to say the Raiders, but there’s one team that every team can always rely upon to get them off any schnide (not sure if that’s the spelling). The Raiders are that team for the Chargers. Is there a bigger disappointment than this Charger team? They were the number 2 team in the AFC presumably after New England. Now, the Chargers are not going to the playoffs and the Patriots are looking at a Wild Card berth. That’s why we play the games folks.

Bears (-6.5) over Jaguars- When your star RB is saying that this is the worst team he’s played for, and he’s played on some 5-11 teams and 6-10 teams. That’s throwing your team under the bus and that’s pretty much your team deciding to pack it in for the rest of the season.

Colts (-13.5) over Bengals- I think its pretty clear by now, that this is the scariest team heading into the AFC playoffs. Why? It’s the Peyton Manning factor. You just know that with his experience, there’s too many question marks that he can get rid of with this Indy team. The Bengals meanwhile are in cruise control to last place. Paging Bill Cowher, paging Bill Cowher.

Titans (-14) over Browns- Four words to chew upon when thinking about this pick: Ken Dorsey, starting Quarterback.

Packers (-6) over Texans- I like this Packer team, I just can’t understand its record. You know what Favre conspiracy theorists are thinking right? Concrete evidence that Favre IS the difference.

Vikings (-10) over Lions- If they don’t win this week, the Lions WILL go 0-16. After this debacle, does Rod Marinelli get a job at Home Depot much less an NFL team? Where does he go from here? I’d be worried about Rod Marinelli.

Falcons(+3.5) over Saints- What’s wrong with Vegas? Their point spreads aren’t fooling anyone and they are inviting people to win money. I thought they were trying to take our money, not give it to us. But hey, I’m not complaining. The Falcons are easily a better team right now, and what team deserves better luck right now then the Falcons? After their star QB goes to prison, their head coach quits on the team, and their star CB talks his way out of the team, they have reinvented themselves. I’m a fan of feel good stories.

Giants (-7) over Eagles- Everyone’s making a big deal about the distractions that this whole Plaxico thing will cause, but how do we not see what this team has taught us all season? Nothing can faze them. They have taken on the personality of their star QB.

Jets (-3.5) over 49ers- I don’t think anyone should be surprised by last week’s game by the Jets. This was coming. Like the Giants, I feel like a loss on the schedule makes them better. Let’s see how they respond.

Dolphins (+1) over Bills- Five words: JP Losman starting QB. Add to the fact that they are playing in a dome in Toronto thanks to some shady agreement between the NFL and Canada where they make the Bills play a few home games over the next few seasons in Canada. So the whole homefield advantage of playing in the extremely frigid conditions of Buffalo are completely subdued.

Chiefs (+9) over Broncos- Remember that whole thing about how there’s just some teams, you get up for? Denver, meet K.C.. Oh, you’ve met already? Ok.

Steelers (-3) over Cowboys- There’s no Marion Barber, no Felix Jones, and probably no Demarcus Ware. Exactly where is Dallas going to go from here? I know everyone got excited about the Cowboys, but I see James Harrison going crazy in this game against Flozell Adams.

Pats (-5) over Seahawks- Facing Bill Belichiek after a loss is like meeting a kid who was fat in high school ten years down the line with him looking like a bodybuilder. You just know that this won’t be comfortable for the Seahawks.

Rams (+14) over Cardinals- Were we overexcited about this Cards team? Why is offense so much more exciting than a defense? Well, the Rams get back Steven Jackson so I expect this game to be close.

Ravens (-5) over Redskins- The Ravens are suddenly an offensive team. Is Ray Lewis going crazy right now? I wonder what will happen when the defense lets them down, will the offense start mouthing off in front of microphones like the defense would over the years when the offense just wasn’t that good?

Bucaneers (+3) over Panthers- the Bucs, are a good team and if they win this game, depending on how they win, I will measure how afraid I’ll be for the Giants in the playoffs if they are to face each other.

Last Week: 8-8
Season: 99-93