Rising from the Ashes: Josh Gordon’s Return to the Gridiron

Anyone who pays attention to the NFL knows that Josh Gordon’s return is a pretty big deal. The Cleveland wide receiver’s well-known battle with substance abuse has kept him off the field since 2014. Back when this all began, the fans couldn’t comprehend how someone so talented could throw it all away for a quick high. We put athletes on pedestals, forgetting sometimes that they are human. No one is immune to addiction and the effect it has on their life, as well as those closest to them. Gordon was no exception.

Free-falling

It is important to recognize the issues he had early on with drugs and alcohol. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Gordon admitted to raking in roughly $10,000 a month from selling marijuana while he was in college. Now, some will say ‘student athletes can’t receive gifts or money so… he was just supporting himself by any means’. First of all, drugs are never the answer. Secondly, this highlights his dependence on marijuana, namely as a source of income throughout college. Oh, and another thing to remember: people who sell drugs are also more likely to abuse them and Gordon was no different. In his interview with GQ, he admitted to getting high or drinking before every NFL game. It became an unhealthy ritual that eventually caught up to him:

Two game-suspension in 2013 for violating the substance abuse policy of the NFL
Arrested for DWI in the summer of 2014
Suspended for the entire 2014 season but was able to get it reduced to just 10 games
Suspended for the entire 2015 season
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Working Towards Sobriety

Josh Gordon was offered reinstatement in 2016 under special circumstances; he passed. Instead, he was able to find the strength and courage he needed to go back to rehab. The most amazing part about his story is that he finally decided that his life was worth living. He didn’t decide to get sober for his career or the money. This young man decided to do it for HIMSELF. By continuing to choose sobriety, he is choosing himself and his family over the drugs and alcohol. Gordon was a lost and reckless young man who took life for granted. In the time he spent recovering, he has grown in more ways than one. I hope others who are struggling can use his story as a source of strength, and become inspired to change their lives for the better.

Tune in to watch the Gordon take the field for the first time since 2014 when the Browns visit the Chargers on Sunday. I believe he’ll have no trouble settling in. Let’s blow that 2013 season out of the water!

Also, if you haven’t already, check out his interview with GQ.

He opens up about a lot of personal experiences that have led him to where he is now. Great read!

Why Brady Is Better Than Eli — Period

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I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of all the talk about Eli Manning this week. His team is playing like a bunch of pylons and Coach McAdoo decides to bench Eli Manning. Personally, that’s like firing the engine room guy when it’s the coach steering the ship. Also, with this benching there has been a lot of talk from Giants’ fans how Eli is better than Tom Brady. Well, other than the two Super Bowl victories over the Patriots, there is not really anything for a comparison.

Bitter Giants’ fans are trying to use the two Super Bowl victories over Brady to make this ridiculous statement. I think there is no way you can even attempt to make a statement like that. You first need to compare their careers overall and not just two games. That is why I will show you once and for all that Brady is the GOAT and Eli is just a sad sheep.

IT’S LIKE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES

The best analogy I can think of when comparing Eli Manning to Tom Brady is that it’s like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, both of these players are quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls and have had long careers. Manning is entering his 14th NFL season and has had a very solid career. Eli Manning has won two Super Bowls (both over the Brady-led Patriots), and has put up some impressive career stats. He has passed for more than 50,000 yards in his career and also for 334 touchdowns, which are both impressive milestones. Manning has also been the reigning NFL iron man for quarterbacks, with 212 straight starts since his career began. All in all, I would give Eli a career grade of B+, or maybe even an A-.

Now Giants’ fans are trying to say that Eli is better than Tom. This is why it’s not true. Brady has won five Super Bowls, more than the entire Manning family, including their father Archie. That should be enough to win all comparisons all by itself but I have much more. Tom is playing in his 18th season in the NFL and plays better now then he likely ever has. Eli can’t say the same thing in that regard.

Before all of you Giants’ fans and Brady haters go even more nuts, think of this. Tom has dealt with as many injured players and issues if not more than Eli ever did. Tom and the Patriots played most of last season without Gronk and won the Super Bowl. Brady played most of last week’s game with a third-string player on his offensive line and threw for four touchdowns. Eli is without Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall this season, and that is tough for sure. Brady is without Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and the list goes on. That excuse is just that; a sad reason to explain why Eli is declining or at least slowing down.

There are a couple of other stats that make this whole foolish comparison a moot point as well. The biggest stat that leaves no doubt that Brady is so much better than Eli is the number of respective wins. Brady has the most wins in NFL history by any quarterback, including the post season. Brady’s 217 regular-season wins and 25 post-season wins are just marks that may not ever be matched. How can you even think that Eli is in that class, let alone ahead of Brady? Manning has 118 wins, so just digest that stat for a minute. Brady is ahead of him by almost 100 wins, the equivalent of winning out including playoffs for five straight years.

Another stat that Eli is far behind Brady in would be their career TD/INT ratios. Eli has thrown an impressive 334 TD passes over his career but has amassed 222 INTs also. Tom Brady has thrown a jaw dropping 482 career TD passes and only 155 INTs over his playing time. Brady has significantly more TD passes, and not just because he has played longer. The fact that Brady has played quite a bit longer with only he only 155 INTs, almost 70 less than Manning, is amazing.

(Mexico City 11/19/17) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady congratulates wide receiver Brandin Cooks’s touchdown during the third quarter of the NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at Azteca Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Matt Stone

NOT A FAIR FIGHT

Besides the number of Super Bowl appearances and wins versus Manning, there is another reason why Brady is just plain better. You will never see Tom Brady complain to the media or anyone that he does not have the tools to do his job. I honestly think that Brady could have a great season with only using other teams’ players that they released from their rosters. There is no way you could ever say the same thing about Eli Manning.

Tom Brady also realised that he must stay in fantastic shape to be able to play at age 40. And Brady is not just playing at age 40, he’s excelling. He remains one of the front-runners for the league MVP this season. He has adapted his playing style to bounce around in the pocket to allow his receivers to get open. Eli Manning has the agility of a refrigerator and is just a sitting duck in the pocket.

Before all of you Giants’ fans and haters go off on a tangent of saying that Brady plays in the weak AFC East, just hang on a minute. Brady also plays in the AFC, which has been the stronger conference in the NFL for some time. The AFC contains teams like the Steelers, Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders, Bengals, who have been consistently solid for many years during Brady’s career. The NFC usually has the Packers, Seahawks, Saints and maybe one team for the NFC East be solid every season. It is just not a fair fight to say that where you play makes that much difference.

The NFL schedule is also weighted, where the better you finish the previous season gives you a harder time next year. The Patriots won the Super Bowl last year and are at a record of 9-2 at this point of their schedule. It has not been a cake walk and the team and the Patriots are dealing with a boat load of injuries and not missing a beat. Can Eli Manning and the Giants say anything like that? I didn’t think so, but thanks for trying.

Before Giants’ fans or Brady haters start spreading fertilizer all over social media, they should check their facts. The only thing that matters is the W and Tom continues to put those up regardless. You do not see him whining about things other players or his coaches are doing. You certainly wouldn’t see him crying in the locker room about it to the media. Get used to it people, you hate us cuz you ain’t us and that’s about it.

Charlie Mcavoy Has Gone Above and Beyond

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Entering the NHL season expectations for the 19-year-old defenseman were set pretty high. So high that at one point it started to seem unrealistic. But so far McAvoy has shocked everyone with his skill and makeup. Through 23 games this season, McAvoy has not only been excellent on the offensive end with 3 goals and 10 assists. He’s also been quite stout defensively during a time when Boston needed him most.

Offensively

The former 1st round pick has always had the skill set to be a productive two-way defenseman. But some scouts were optimistic about it translating to the NHL level. So far McAvoy has shown that his offense is no fluke. Bruins fans have been out of their seats with this kid’s skill set. He has excellent skating ability, great vision through all three zones, and as fabulous hands as Jonathan Quick. Cory Schneider got to witness that first hand.

But what has been most impressive about his offensive game is his intelligence. While McAvoy has the talent that many could only dream about, he has shown an excellent level of discipline for a 19-year-old rookie. He has shown great timing on when to pinch down the boards and make a play. He also has the awareness to give up on the risky play that could hurt them defensively. Something that he was doing earlier on, credit to the coaching staff for developing him thus far. At times its hard to remember McAvoy is a defenseman because of how gifted he is offensively.

Defensively

With the non-stop ravishing of injuries the Bruins have faced this season, it’s been hard to find a player who has played every night. But McAvoy has and Cassidy has leaned on him as a result. The rookie is currently averaging 23:42 TOI, and played 28:11 against the Lightning in the Bruins’ 3-2 win at the Garden. That ranks 26th in the NHL, at the age of 19 lets not forget. The rookie has made his mistakes, which is expected when your out there in high pressure situations. McAvoy has shown the ability to learn from them and rapidly improve on the defensive end.

Physicality

Whats been most impressive is his physicality up and down the ice. McAvoy lines up players coming through the neutral zone showing a willingness to defend the blue line. Also his toughness has been eye-opening for spectators. McAvoy has also been on the receiving end of quite a few collisions too. But every time he pops back up and even got into it with Lucic. This kid has the heart and the guts to play a physical game, and the talent to go end to end.

Bruins fans: get ready because this type of player doesn’t come around often. At the young age of 19 its hard not to get excited about the future with Charlie McAvoy leading the way.

Trade Jackie Bradley Jr.

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Writers That Cover the Red Sox

Writers of the Boston media don’t want to trade Bradley Jr. for Jose Abreu. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe wrote that Abreu offers more power, while Bradley is more a complete and arguably more valuable player, given his defense and base running. What is with the people that don’t want to trade for power? Bradley is better Okay let’s look at some stats. Abreu has 124 home runs in his career while Bradley only has 57 home runs. Abreu has 410 RBI’s while Bradley has 233 RBI’s in his career.

Trade Jackie Bradley

BOSTON – JULY 9: Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. made a spectacular diving catch to rob Chicago’s Tyler Flowers of a hit in the top of the second inning. The Boston Red Sox hosted the Chicago White Sox in a MLB game at Fenway Park. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Bradley in the postseason is batting a .160 average, but he’s better than Abreu, right? The Red Sox are missing power in their lineup. Stanton is not going to happen as the Giants seem to be the front runner to land him. Out of the Red Sox prospects: Bradley, Bogaerts, Betts, and Benintendi, the first to go out of those four is Bradley. The Red Sox have made it clear they won’t trade Benintendi and Betts. Abreu is the power bat you need to win now the Red Sox are done with the rebuilding stage. They have their core, they just need a bat. I’m sure many of the writers that cover the team wish Farrell was still the manager for some reason. They hate change and don’t want to win now.

Comparing Jackie Bradley to Jose Abreu

In 2017 Jose Abreu had 33 home runs 102 RBI’s and a .304 batting average. Bradley had 17 home runs 63 RBI’s and a batting average of .245, but his defense is going to win championships. Right, writers that cover the team? If the White Sox GM makes that trade for Bradley because he thinks Bradley is better than Abreu the GM should be fired. The Red Sox should really go through with this trade and bring the power hitter Abreu to the Red Sox.

The Greatest Left Fielders in Red Sox History

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With the pitchers and infielders all covered, it’s time to head to the outfield. Who are the greatest players to ever roam left field in front of the Green Monster?

Ted Williams

The greatest hitter who ever lived. I could go on and on writing about his statistics, they are mind-boggling. The last player to ever hit .400, Williams batted .356 over his first four seasons. He then went to war and missed the next three seasons. Where many guys return from war and have a hard time readjusting, Williams came back and won the MVP Award in his first year back.

Williams was called back to service for the Korean War. He left early in 1952 and returned in August 1953. After over a year fighting overseas, Williams did one of the most superhuman feats in sports history. Over 91 at-bats, having not played baseball in over a year and fighting a war during that time, Williams batted .410 and hit 13 home runs! That’s one home run every seven at-bats. He then never batted lower than .345 over the next four years, topping out with a .388 batting average during his age 38 season in 1957. In 1960, at the age of 41, Williams posted his best HR/AB ratio of his career, hitting 29 home runs in only 310 at-bats. If the DH existed back then, he could have kept going for several years.

Williams had an OPS over 1.000 every year of his career except 1959, when he played injured at age 40. He rebounded to a 1.096 OPS the following season and retired. If he had not missed time to the war, Williams would have hit close to 700 home runs, at which point he may have kept going to try to surpass Babe Ruth. He would likely have 3500 hits coupled with somewhere north of 2500 walks. His career 162 game average was .344 with 37 home runs, 130 RBI, 188 hits, 143 walks and a .482/.634/1.116 slash line.

Williams won two MVP Awards and was robbed of three others thanks to biased media members. He finished 2nd in four MVP votes and had three other top five finishes. Williams won two Triple Crowns, leading the league in average six times, home runs four times and RBI four times. Williams also led the league in on base percentage 12 times, slugging nine times and OPS 10 times.

Carl Yastrzemski

Yaz would rank first for almost any team, but in Boston he has to contend with the greatest ever for that honor. He did an admirable job following in Williams’ footsteps though, having a Hall of Fame career and holding several franchise records. Yastrzemski batted .285 with 452 home runs and 1844 runs batted in. He banged out 3419 base hits, 646 of which were doubles. Yaz of course played some first base and designated hitter, but he made his hay as a left fielder. He had over 2000 hits and 1000 RBI while playing left field.

Yaz’ 1967 season was historic, and he was the last player to win the Triple Crown Award for years before Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat in 2012. Yaz led the Red Sox from a 9th place finish in 1966 to the 1967 AL pennant by batting .326 with 44 home runs and a 1.040 OPS. He would hit 40+ home runs three times in four seasons. Interestingly, immediately after that stretch he failed to hit even 20 homers in any of the next five seasons.

Yaz won three batting titles and led the league in on-base percentage five times. He made 18 All-Star Games and won the 1967 MVP Award. In addition to his hitting talents, Yaz was just as good with the glove. He won seven Gold Glove Awards as a left fielder, including one after he had been moved to first base for a few years. He returned to left field in 1977 and didn’t make a single error while picking up 16 assists.

Carl Yastrzemski hitting home run as Tim McCarver and umpire Al Barlick watch at Fenway Park. 10/5/1967 CREDIT: (Photo by Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

Jim Rice

Jim Rice is yet another Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with the Red Sox. He only had a stretch of 12 good years, but during that stretch he may have been the best hitter in baseball. Rice had a swift decline in the late 80’s or he would have coasted into the Hall of Fame earlier. After batting .304 with 350 home runs during that 12 year stretch, Rice batted only .263 with 31 home runs over his final three seasons.

Rice batted .298 for his career, hitting 382 home runs out of 2452 base hits, all with the Red Sox. His home runs rank him 4th on the franchise’s all-time list, while his base hits rank third behind Williams and Yaz. Rice hit 39 or more home runs all three seasons from 1977-79, averaging a season of .320 with 41 home runs and a .972 OPS. His 406 total bases in 1978 were the most by a player since Stan Musial in 1948, and the most by an American League player since Joe Dimaggio in 1937. He led the league in hits, home runs, RBI and OPS that season on way to winning the MVP.

In addition to his MVP Award, Jim Rice finished in the top five for the MVP vote five other times. He made eight All-Star Games and won two Silver Sluggers during the eighties. Silver Sluggers were not an award before 1980 or he surely would have won a few more. Rice led the league in home runs three times.

Jim Rice of the Red Sox hitting a home run,

Manny Ramirez

Manny has some of the greatest offensive numbers in history among right-handed batters. About half of that production came in Boston. As a Red Sox, Manny batted .312 with 274 home runs. 868 RBI and 1232 hits. His rate numbers are better than Yaz and Rice, at .411/.588/.999, but his counting stats fall far short as those two spent their entire careers in Boston. Manny also played during a hitter’s era when offensive numbers were much higher.

Of course, Manny had his drawbacks. Although never testing positive as a Red Sox, Manny did fail two drug tests before his career ended. It is hard to know when he first started using performance enhancers. He also asked to be traded on multiple occasions. Manny was known to take stretches off with phantom injuries. Needless to say, Manny wasn’t always good for team camaraderie. In addition to him spending less time here, these are reasons Manny comes in fourth on this list.

Manny’s real strong stretch lasted for six seasons, from when he was signed in 2001 until 2006. His play had dropped off in 2007 and before he was traded in 2008. During that six-year stretch Manny batted .316 with an average of 39 home runs and 119 RBI per season. There is no doubt, he was an offensive force. Manny also won the 2004 World Series MVP. He made eight All-Star Games, won six Silver Sluggers and finished in the top six for MVP three times.

Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after connecting for a three-run home run to defeat the Los Angeles Angels, 6-3, in Game 2 of the ALDS at Fenway Park October 5, 2007 (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Mike Greenwell

“The Gator” wraps up the top five. Unfairly to him, Greenwell pales in comparison to the four above him on this list. The Red Sox have had quite the rich history in left field. Greenwell was no slouch, batting .303 for his career. When a career .300 hitter looks weak after the top four, that says something. Greenwell hit 130 home runs out of his 1400 career hits, all with the Red Sox. He missed a lot of time to injuries in the 90’s, holding back his stats, but Greenwell could hit. He had an excellent slash line of .368/.463/.831 for his career.

Greenwell started off his career hot, homering four times in 31 at-bats in September of 1985. He was one of the best young outfielders in the game during the late 80’s. He hit .328 with 19 home runs and a .956 OPS in 1987. Greenwell would follow that up with a .946 OPS in 1988, batting .325 with 22 home runs and 119 RBI. That season, Greenwell finished second in the MVP vote to Jose Canseco, which turned out to not be a very level playing field. In 1989 he batted .308 and drove in 95 more runs. Quite a stretch to begin his career, injuries are really what held him back later. His 162 game average for his career is a stellar .303 with 17 homers and 93 RBI.

Mike Greenwell of the Boston Red Sox watches the flight of his ball during an MLB game circa 1995 at Fenway Park.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Honorable Mentions:

Duffy Lewis & Troy O’Leary

Duffy Lewis is buried not far from where I live. I visited his grave last fall.

Greatest Right-Handed Pitchers

Greatest Left-Handed Pitchers

Greatest Relief Pitchers

Greatest Catchers

Greatest First Basemen

Greatest Second Basemen

Greatest Third Basemen

Greatest Shortstops

WILL THE CELTICS GO STREAKING AGAIN?

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BIG PICTURE

The magical win streak is over, coming to a halt in Miami. It stretched to 16 games, just 3 shy of tying a franchise record. Even this close to re-writing significant parts of an illustrious Celtics history, Brad Stevens couldn’t find a reason for high praise just yet.

“We haven’t played well enough to consider this win streak to be valid in my opinion. We’ve figured out ways to win games. We gotta play a lot better.”

Team chemistry is coming along nicely. Stevens is starting to find pairings that work together, but overall it is still a work in progress. No one knew what to expect out of the C’s this year, especially after Hayward’s injury. Since, they have proven they are a team that is ready to play every night. These C’s will still be a force in the playoffs, even if they are underdogs. That’s how it’s been since Stevens arrived in 2013, and his teams have overachieved every year since. This new group is showing they are no different; they will fight until the end, just as in years past. The streak showed these guys are able to fight through adversity whether it be big picture or in-game situations. Despite the amazing feat, the Celtics know they can play a lot better.

“It wasn’t like we were necessarily dominating during the streak. But the will of this team is something that needs to be accounted for.” -Al Horford

The players are staying humble and focused on the right things despite some unexpected early season success. Oh, and that Celtics Pride? Yup, it’s still around. This team has fought and found ways to come back with their back against the wall. Four times during the streak they came back from a 16+ point deficit, including a road game in OKC and a 3rd quarter 19-0 run against the Warriors. They almost did it again in Miami in an improbable 4th quarter comeback from down 18. Getting it all the way down to 1, they fell just short, effectively ending the streak.

The streak was fun while it lasted, but now, the hard work can begin. The Celtics have barely had a chance to get on the practice court since training camp, playing every other day for over a month. They just had their first two-day break before the 76ers game since the streak started back on October 20th. The team knows it still has a lot to improve on. If history is any indication, more progress is on the horizon. It is going to be scary once this team truly finds its groove, on both sides of the ball.

CAN THEY PUT ANOTHER BIG STREAK TOGETHER?

There is no reason to believe this Celtics team won’t win a lot of games, even in bunches at times. Do they have a chance to break the franchise record of 19 games in a row? They probably got as close as they’ll get to that mark this year, but they do have potential to go on another big streak. This is especially true with some soft spots in the schedule that have yet to come.

The month of December is pretty light aside from road trips to San Antonio & Detroit early, followed by home games against the Wizards & Rockets later in the month. They should catch the Spurs still without Kawhi Leonard, and will be ready for the rematch against the Pistons, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them pull off a decent streak in December. A revenge game against the Heat at home should be fun as well.

The biggest obstacle the Celtics overcame during their 16 game streak was having to play every other day. The situation is the same throughout all of December, so fatigue might start to set in at some point. It’s inevitable that the Celtics lose to some sub-.500 teams. If they do pull off another streak, I’d look for it to be in the new calendar year as they start to get more rest in between games. They will have to get some quality wins, as the schedule tightens up a bit later in the season. This will only make a 10+ game win streak look more legit than the first one.

DAILY FOCUS

The biggest thing is going to be keeping the focus level high game to game. The focus continues to be daily progress and playing the right way, as Stevens likes to say. It sounds simple, because it is. Stevens lays out the path for these guys to do the right things to improve and play within the system; it is simply up to them to follow through. They showed they could do this during the 16 game streak, but doing it over the course of an 82 game season is another story. Still, it has been impressive how they’ve been able to turn it on night in and night out, even in games it seems like they have no business winning.

What do you think? Will the Celtics go streaking again?

Roger Goodell: The Fickle ‘Father’ of NFL Football

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Parents know the difficulties of disciplining their children when they misbehave. But NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell, an actual father himself (and pseudo-dad to NFL players), has botched a number of disciplinary issues in the past and continues to do so. No parent is perfect, but c’mon man. The three situations that have involved domestic violence against women remain the worst of the worst:

The Mishandling of Ray Rice . I thought Goodell would have used that situation to set a precedent for players who commit acts of domestic violence against women. Unfortunately, he had all the evidence in front of him and still couldn’t hand down the proper punishment. Ray Rice initially receives a two-game suspension. Two games?? Only AFTER the video of him punching his fiancée was released did the league hand down the indefinite suspension. The Ravens also threw him to the wolves.

The Greg Hardy Incident. Arrested for assaulting and threatening his then-girlfriend, Goodell didn’t want to fumble this one too. Hardy received a 10-game suspension. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long because Hardy had the NERVE to appeal. Somehow, using NFL math, the suspension got chopped down to four games. As if it couldn’t have gotten worse, the public heard the horrifying photos and the chilling 911. Meanwhile, this guy was out on the field getting a paycheck every week with the full support of Jerry Jones.

The Mistreatment of Zeke Elliot. He was suspended six games for domestic assault allegations. The criminal investigation found no wrong-doing AND the investigation done by the league found nothing. The investigator suggested no suspension. But Goodell, with two previously mishandled domestic violence issues, decided to overcompensate. He didn’t care who had to suffer. A well- documented battle between Elliot and Goodell came to an end with Elliot now serving out that suspension.

I don’t understand any of this and quite frankly, I don’t think Goodell does either. And he’s the one calling the shots!

Mishandled Misdemeanors

DeflateGate. On a much lighter note, Goodell tried to redeem himself once more and suspended Tom Brady over some deflated footballs. Didn’t matter that all the evidence was circumstantial at best. Goodell figured if he got rid of the most hated quarterback in the NFL for a few games, people would like him again. It was short-lived: the Patriots still ended up being Super Bowl champions.

WWE: NFL Edition. Fights on the field have been the story this month. Green and Ramsey top the list of most memorable, followed by the recent Crabtree and Talib bout. Only A.J. Green caught the fine ($42,000) for his fight with Jalen Ramsey and neither received suspensions. Then, Crabtree and Talib got into it after another ruined gold chain rough-up. It cost both players a two-game suspension. Raiders coach Jack Del Rio questioned the decision, referring to the Green/Ramsey situation in a tweet. I guess Goodell saw that. The suspensions were halved to one game.

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Goodell sends a simple message: allegations get you in MORE trouble than real evidence. The fact that a player can get the same suspension for deflated footballs and physically assaulting women is mind-blowing.

No extension for you Goodell.

Will Garoppolo Return to the New England Patriots?

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Jimmy Garoppolo Throws a Touchdown Pass in 9ers Debut

Jimmy Garoppolo made his San Francisco 49ers debut Sunday, throwing a touchdown pass with time running out in the fourth quarter. The 49ers are starting Garoppolo on Sunday. Jimmy found out Tuesday morning according to my source. It seems like they are holding him until next season and might give him the franchise tag in 2018. I have a source that says Garoppolo is not happy San Francisco won’t pay him.

Will Garoppolo Comeback to New England in the Future?

My source also said Garoppolo doesn’t know if he would comeback to New England after Tom Brady retires. He is currently on his last year of his four year contract, worth $3,483,898 according to spotrac.com. This season he is making $434,158. It looks like the 49ers are going to franchise him next season, see how he plays, and them offer him a contract extension. If Garoppolo signs a three year deal with San Francisco, would he come back to New England afterwards? He knows the system and he has been a starter in the league for three seasons. At that point Brady would be 43 and would probably call it a great Hall of Fame Career. Even if he doesn’t Jimmy Garoppolo could still possibly come back.

Garoppolo Deserves to Start

When Garoppolo was traded, the head coach for the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, said that there was no rush to play him.

“By no means are we trying to rush the process. I would definitely not expect it this week. We’ll look at it each week and when we feel that he’s comfortable and has a chance to go in and have a success with the time he has put in and the reps he has gotten in practice then we’ll decide that time is right.”

After C.J. Beathard got hurt, Garoppolo got his time to shine and prove that learning from Tom Brady has paid off. Garoppolo deserves to be a starter in the league, which is why he was traded.

Barry Bonds Needs to Be in the Hall of Fame

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Barry Bonds belongs in the Hall of Fame. Whether you believe he is the legitimate home run king, or you hate how he helped make a mockery of the game, or you think he is a jackass, he remains one of the greatest outfielders to ever play the game. He was one of the best all-around players in the game without steroids and was already a slam dunk for the Hall.

Pre-Steroids

Barry Bonds’ career began in 1986. By 1990 he had broken out and won the MVP Award. He then proceeded to win two more MVPs and finish 2^nd in the other vote over the next three seasons. Bonds presumably played clean through the 1998 season. At that point he already had three MVPs, eight Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Bonds had also slugged 411 home runs and stolen 445 bases, making him the first player ever to hit that many homers and steal that many bases. Oh, he was also 34 years old and at the top of his game. He had plenty of time to add to those stats. He had achieved all-time great status, a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.

Not even going back to his days in Pittsburgh, the picture on the right is Barry Bonds circa 1996. The one on the left is in 2007.

Steroids

Bonds’ ego probably led to his steroid use. With McGwire and Sosa chasing home run records and getting all the attention, Bonds likely looked at them with disgust thinking “I’m better than those guys.” Bonds was also coming back from injury that season, missing the season’s first couple months. He could have taken some substances to come back from injury faster. That season, turning 35 in July, Bonds posted his best home runs per-at-bat ratio of any season during his career. During each of the next six seasons he posted an even lower HR/AB ratio. Steroids made guys like McGwire and Sosa and others home run machines. Barry Bonds had reached all-time great status; steroids made him a video game character. From 2000-2004, Bonds batted .339 and averaged 52 home runs per season. His 174 walks per season aided in giving him an outrageous slash line of .535/.781/1.316. That’s just absurd. In 2004, at the age of 40, he racked up a .609 on base percentage. He really did make a mockery of the game and the record books, but he illustrated the problem with steroids and what it can help guys accomplish.

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits his 714th career home run, tying Babe Ruth for second place on the all time home run list. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Conclusion

Would Bonds be the all-time home run king if he had played clean? No. Would he have a .444/.607/1.051 slash line? Again, no. But during the first nine years of the 90s he had a .438/.600/1.038 slash line while averaging 36 home runs and 36 stolen bases per season. And those seasons I bet he played clean. He would probably still own 500-500 club solo, while winning plenty of awards along the way. I don’t think he gets in this year with such a crowded ballot. However, the Hall of Fame exists for the greatest players to ever play, and you cannot have that without Bonds.

An Unlikely Best of the AFC West Emerging?

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2016 AFC WEST ELITES

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

In 2016 the AFC West was the best division in football. It featured Andy Reid’s Chiefs, a rejuvenated Raiders team, and the Super Bowl 50 Champion Denver Broncos. The Chiefs are known for consistency, elite coaching, great defense, and taking care of the ball. Since Reid joined the team as head coach in 2013, the Chiefs have finished each season with at least nine wins. Entering this season, their record with Reid as head coach is was 43-21; nothing too shabby. In 2016 they finished 12-4 with a viable offense (7th in AFC) and a stellar defense (3rd in AFC). Kansas City also ranked second in net points at 78.

DENVER BRONCOS

The Broncos have had one of the toughest defenses the league has seen over the past decade. Denver finished among the top three in the AFC in points allowed in 2015 and 2016. Denver’s defense struck fear in the eyes of opponents. It was nearly impossible to run or throw against this unit as it featured dominant defensive players in both the front seven and the secondary. The secondary is led by Aqib Talib, one of the leagues best corners as well as Chris Harris who is arguably the leagues best slot corner. The pass rush was an absolute nightmare for opposing QB’s and O lines as it seemed like Von Miller would be hitting the QB on every play. Denver has been a dreadful place to play for opposing QB’s over the past few years.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Oh man, the Raiders had a really tough stretch over the past 13 seasons prior to 2016. From 2003 to 2015, they failed to finish any season with a winning record or finish higher than third place in the AFC West. Their overall record during that span? 63-145. How many head coaches? Nine. Finally though in 2016 they emerged in a big way as they quickly became one of the best teams in all of football. Oakland finished 2016 with a record of 12-4 despite playing in the toughest division. They were led by young QB Derek Carr who finished fifth in MVP voting. Carr lead the Raiders offensive attack as they finished second in the AFC in points scored. This group was certainly poised for greatness in the 2017 season.

THE AFC WEST’S FORGOTTEN MEMBER: THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Over the last seven season, the Chargers have lived in the shadows of their AFC West rivals. The Chargers have just one lone playoff appearance since 2009. You have to go back to the LaDainian Tomlinson days to remember the last time the Chargers were a real force in the AFC. Football fans expected the same old thing in 2017, dominance by the Chiefs, Broncos, and now the Chargers’ old basement buddy, the Oakland Raiders. Those poor, gritty Chargers would play tough but once again fail to escape their inevitable fate of dwelling in the AFC West basement. However, the Chargers seem to have something else in mind this year and it seems that the other division members may, oddly enough, be on board with the plan.

HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED

Well, the start of the season was anything but pretty, as the Chargers lost their first four games upon moving to Los Angeles. However, they have quickly turned things around and won five of their last seven games. The Chargers have had one of the toughest schedules this year and in play a premiere division yet they still have won five games. Okay, five wins does not display overwhelming success but I want to break down their season one game at a time and prove that this team could be 8-3 at this point of the season had some luck had gone their way. I also want to demonstrate that this team is playoff caliber and could certainly make it in considering the wide open AFC West and AFC wild card races.

Week 1- Younghoe Koo misses 44-yard game tying field goal to force OT in Denver (blocked). 0-1

Week 2- Younghoe Koo misses 44-yard game-winning field goal vs Miami. 0-2

Week 3- Fair and square 24-10 loss vs Kansas City. 0-3

Week 4- 26-24 loss to leagues best team: Philadelphia. 0-4

Week 5- 27-22 win at NY Giants. 1-4

Week 6- 17-16 win at Oakland. 2-4

Week 7- Dominant 21-0 shutout win vs Denver. 3-4

Week 8- One possession loss AT New England. 3-5

Week 9- BYE

Week 10- Rookie Austin Ekeler fumbles with less than two minutes remaining in own territory while leading 17-14. Then Joey Bosa late hit on Bortles to move Jacksonville into field goal territory to tie the game. Jacksonville wins in OT 20-17. 3-6

Week 11- Dominant 54-24 win vs Buffalo. 4-6

Week 12- Dominant 28-6 win at Dallas. 5-6

Evident of some of their unfortunate losses this season, the Chargers could certainly have a much better record. If Koo had made both of his field goals in weeks one and two and Ekeler did not give up the costly fumble then this team could easily be 8-3 right now. Sure, every team has their “what if” scenarios but the Chargers have been extremely unfortunate. Anyways, back to my hypothetical 8-3 Chargers team: their losses would have been to the red-hot Chiefs, the leagues best team (Philadelphia) by two points and AT New England by one possession, quite impressive list of losses if there is such a thing. So, at 5-6 what has the Chargers in great position to make a playoff push? the downfall of their AFC West rivals.

THE REGRESSION OF THE AFC WEST

Well for starters, the Oakland Raiders, who were a favorite to win the division, have looked pretty mediocre for the majority of the season and are just 5-6. The Broncos have lost seven straight and are just 3-8 on the season. Their issue is the offense, which is ranked 26th in the league averaging just 17.9 points per game. The Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemien experiments have all failed, leaving Denver’s now ex-offensive coordinator Mike McCoy scratching his head about what to do about that mess. Lastly, the Kansas City Chiefs, perennially a quality team under Andy Reid. They began the season as the Superbowl favorite of many people as they started 5-0. Since then it has been an epic collapse as they have lost five of their last six contests. A collapse of this magnitude is very surprising to see from an Andy Reid-coached team.

Side note: I find it interesting that the Chiefs won in New England and against the Eagles yet, somehow managed to lose to the inferior Giants. Hey, that’s just football I suppose.

CHARGERS PLAYOFF RUN

Los Angeles has made some huge mistakes at the most inopportune moments this season and it has costed them multiple wins. However, at 5-6, they are still very much alive in the wild card and divisional playoff race. If they want to advance to the playoffs they need to forget the critical mistakes they have made and learn from them. They need to capitalize on fourth quarter leads and avoid costly penalties and turnovers. what remains on the schedule for the Chargers? Cleveland and Washington at home, a short road stint at Kansas City and NY Jets, and home against Oakland. If they win four of those five games then I like their chances of making the playoffs.

*Follow me on Twitter: @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*