Game of the Week: London Monarchs at Cincinnati Bengals

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : London Monarchs
They are on a win streak. They will continue that streak. They will win this game.

Mary Moore : Cincinnati Bengals
When you think of the players that will be on the field, a good bet is that the key is whether they can contain Peyton Manning - QB. If not, he will destroy them.

Jim Nox : London Monarchs
Surely, the Monarchs win. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. A double digit win.

Darren Francis : London Monarchs
This week, the Monarchs will will need to come together as a team to win. Players like Marcus McNeill - T and Kyle Clifton - LB who have great team playing skills and understand what everyone needs to to will be pivotal for this.

Top receiver trio?

The Monarchs trio of Marques Colston - WR, Joe Horn - WR and Christian Watson - WR are currently the leading trio of catchers in the league, with 2041 receiving yards between the three.

Joe Thomas optimistic about the future.

Joe Thomas was not pessimistic in an interview after the Chargers lost to the Bengals. 'Surely, we lost, but we were playing well. I think this is a testament to our character and preparation' said Thomas. He added: 'The Bengals are a good team, but I we played our hearts out and kept grinding. We learned a lot from this game, and it will help us in the future'.

Week 7: RB Adrian Peterson (BAL) wins Offensive Player of the Week

Week 7's Offensive Player of the Week is Running Back Adrian Peterson. His 27 att, 194 yds, 1 TD, 4 rec, 29 yds, 1 TD performance stood out in the 27 to 24 victory for the Baltimore Ravens.

The former Oklahoma gridiron star is racking up the rushing yards and now has 1161 Yards and 13 Touchdowns for the season.

Week 7: LB Duane Bickett (DET) wins Defensive Player of the Week

LB Duane Bickett of the Detroit Lions has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. Bickett finished with 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.

Game Recaps for Week 7

Bengals - 29, Chargers - 26
Dolphins - 38, Titans - 13
Bills - 40, Cardinals - 17
Monarchs - 51, Seahawks - 17
Ravens - 27, Raiders - 24
Vikings - 35, Commanders - 21
Giants - 44, Packers - 24
49ers - 30, Colts - 14
Lions - 42, Falcons - 6
Bears - 31, Buccaneers - 21

Game of the Week: Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : Baltimore Ravens
The leadership on this team is great. Having a guy like Kirk Lowdermilk - C on the field and in the locker room is exactly what you need to win games like this. This will be watercooler talk on monday. Do not miss it.

Mary Moore : Baltimore Ravens
In this game, I think a good bet is that there is this RB named Adrian Peterson - RB. I expect everyone will be watching him, and he will shine.

Jim Nox : Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have really strong team play. You look at a player like Scott Case - SS and what he does for a team. He makes everyone around him better. A single digit win.

Darren Francis : Baltimore Ravens
I really think their defense will make the difference. They are 2nd in points allowed, averaging only 18.7. They are 2nd in interceptions with 6. They are 5th in the league pass average yards per rush.

Marshawn Lynch - RB is playing great!

Marshawn Lynch - RB is looking like a star out there so far this season. If he keeps playing such outstanding football, he’s got a shot at an MVP caliber season.

Coach Showdown with Simon Sly (Season 1990 Week 7)

As always I am Simon Sly with your weekly coach comparison. We have an odd couple for you this week.

PADDY DRISCOLL, HEAD COACH, CHICAGO CARDINALS
The Cardinals currently sit at 0-6-0.

Paddy Driscoll wants to be aggressive on both sides of the ball. Professionalism is the key for him. He demands accountability from everyone around him.

Driscoll is much more charismatic than Belichick.


BILL BELICHICK, HEAD COACH, LONDON MONARCHS
The Monarchs currently sit at 5-1-0.

Bill Belichick preaches flexibility on both offense and defense, focusing on what the situation demands. Professionalism is the key for him. He demands accountability from everyone around him.

Belichick outperforms Driscoll in player development.
Belichick motivates his team a little better than Driscoll.

Week 6: QB Dan Marino (LON) wins Offensive Player of the Week

The league announced London Monarchs quarterback Dan Marino has been named Offensive Player of the Week.

The Monarchs defeated the New York Titans, 58 to 21. Marino did his part, throwing 6 touchdowns, completing 21 of 29 passes for 439 yards. His outstanding performance now brings his season Touchdown to Interception Ratio to 25 to 1, and a passer rating of 147.3.

Week 6: DE Chris Doleman (IND) wins Defensive Player of the Week

DE Chris Doleman of the Indianapolis Colts has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. Doleman finished with 2 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF.

Game Recaps for Week 6

Chargers - 34, Seahawks - 14
Dolphins - 27, Raiders - 24
Bengals - 21, Bills - 17
Monarchs - 58, Titans - 21
Ravens - 52, Cardinals - 17
Lions - 35, Commanders - 21
Giants - 41, Bears - 38
Colts - 24, Vikings - 16
Falcons - 16, Packers - 10
Buccaneers - 38, 49ers - 20

Game of the Week: New York Giants at Chicago Bears

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : Chicago Bears
The Bears are the real deal.

Mary Moore : New York Giants
They won their last game, they will win this game. They win big.

Jim Nox : Chicago Bears
The amount leadership on the Bears will really help them this week. You only need to look at guys like Kyle Cook - C and Johnny Lam Jones - WR to see the importance. Leadership like that helps you win games.

Darren Francis : New York Giants
Head coach Clayton Bigsby has this team running like a well oiled machine. He is has a really good understanding of what works offensively. He is has a really good understanding of what works on defense. The way he prepares gives them an advantage in any game. This should be some good football.

Top receiver trio?

The Monarchs trio of Marques Colston - WR, Joe Horn - WR and Christian Watson - WR are currently the leading trio of catchers in the league, with 16 receving touchdowns between the three.

Peyton Manning - QB is looking good!

Peyton Manning - QB is looking good out there so far this season. If he keeps playing such outstanding football, he’s got a shot at getting himself a nice new contract.

Titans lost. Strief is ok with that.

Encouraging words after the Titans - Seahawks game. Zach Strief - T was upbeat in his assessment after the Seattle lost a close game to the Strief. 'We learned a lot. We showed a lot. There is reason for optimism. We are very close, and we keep building every week. Do not switch channels, we will be with you shortly.', Seattle said smiling confidently.

Week 5: QB Jay Cutler (NYG) wins Offensive Player of the Week

The New York Giants' Jay Cutler threw 6 touchdowns, completing 28 of 32 passes for 391 yards in the Giants victory over the Washington Commanders.

After being drafted in Round 1 of the 1987 amateur draft, season number 3 for Cutler, has seen some impressive numbers including 16 touchdown passes this season.

Week 5: SS Gill Byrd (NYG) wins Defensive Player of the Week

SS Gill Byrd of the New York Giants has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. Byrd finished with 2 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.

Game Recaps for Week 5

Dolphins - 31, Chargers - 28
Ravens - 34, Bills - 13
49ers - 55, Cardinals - 9
Bengals - 40, Raiders - 21
Seahawks - 24, Titans - 21
Giants - 63, Commanders - 6
Colts - 26, Buccaneers - 16
Monarchs - 40, Falcons - 20
Bears - 41, Vikings - 21
Lions - 29, Packers - 7

Game of the Week: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : Minnesota Vikings
Having team player who help coordinate everyone else is invaluable and definitely helps the Vikings win this game. If you look at their roster, I see Chris Kuper - G and Kenneth Walker III - RB playing this kind of role.

Mary Moore : Chicago Bears
The amount leadership on the Bears will really help them this week. You only need to look at guys like Kyle Cook - C and Johnny Lam Jones - WR to see the importance. Leadership like that helps you win games.

Jim Nox : Chicago Bears
I just really like the way they coach in Chicago. Head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg is doing great things. He makes great offensive adjustments. He is running an explosive defense. He is preparation and gameplanning is great.

Darren Francis : Minnesota Vikings
I just have this gut feeling. And you can take that with you to the bank.

Coach Showdown with Simon Sly (Season 1990 Week 5)

Simon Sly is here to bring you another edition of Coach Showdown. This is an interesting week.

TED MARCHIBRODA, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers currently sit at 2-2-0.

Ted Marchibroda likes to mix it up on offense, switching between aggressive and conservative styles. He loves football, and it shows that this is his dreamjob. His eagerness to discuss all aspects of the game is infectious in an organization.
Ted Marchibroda runs a run first None offense. He wants his running backs to focus on running the ball, limiting their other duties. He runs mostly from power formations. Fullbacks are not utilized much. He wants his quarterbacks to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball. He wants his quarterbacks to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball.

They are 2nd in the league pass completion percentage. They are 5th in the league passing touchdowns with 10. They are 10th in the league passing yards per game. Averaging 244.2.They are 15th in the league in sacks allowed.They are 7th in the league in pancakes.They are 11th in the league in passes of more than 20 yards.They are 4th in the league average yards per rush.They are 16th in the league rushing touchdowns with 4.They are 10th in the league rushing yards per game. They average 127.2.They are 8th in the league points scored per game. With an average of 27.5.
Marchibroda is a better offisive mind than Gibbs.


JOE GIBBS, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, CHICAGO CARDINALS
The Cardinals currently sit at 0-4-0.

Joe Gibbs runs his offense conservatively. His attitude is relaxed, and he is good at making everyone around him feel comfortable and promotes a friendly and unceremonial atmosphere in the organization.
Joe Gibbs runs a run first None offense. He wants his running backs to focus on running the ball, limiting their other duties. He runs mostly from power formations. Fullbacks are not utilized much. He wants his quarterbacks to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball. He wants his quarterbacks to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball.

They are 20th in the league pass completion percentage.
They are 20th in the league passing touchdowns with 0.
They are 20th in the league passing yards per game. Averaging 102.
They are 19th in the league in sacks allowed.
They are 20th in the league in pancakes.
They are 20th in the league in passes of more than 20 yards.
They are 6th in the league average yards per rush.
They are 18th in the league rushing touchdowns with 3.
They are 14th in the league rushing yards per game. They average 117.8.
They are 20th in the league points scored per game. With an average of 9.

Gibbs seems a little bit smarter than Marchibroda.

Week 4: QB Steve Young (CHI) wins Offensive Player of the Week

The Chicago Bears' Steve Young threw 4 touchdowns, completing 28 of 45 passes for 292 yards in the Bears victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

After being drafted in Round 1 of the 1985 amateur draft, season number 5 for Young, has seen some impressive numbers including 12 touchdown passes this season.

Week 4: DE Chris Doleman (IND) wins Defensive Player of the Week

DE Doleman absolutely dominated in the Colts 24-21 game with the New York Giants. He finished with 2 Tck, 2 Sck.

Game Recaps for Week 4

Monarchs - 45, Chargers - 7
Dolphins - 38, Bills - 21
Ravens - 27, Seahawks - 21
Raiders - 38, Cardinals - 3
Bengals - 23, Titans - 13
Commanders - 34, Falcons - 20
Colts - 24, Giants - 21
Lions - 30, Buccaneers - 24
Bears - 52, 49ers - 13
Vikings - 45, Packers - 17

Game of the Week: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : San Francisco 49ers
They will rely on their offense to pull them through.

Mary Moore : Chicago Bears
Head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg runs a tight ship in Chicago. I feel certain he has prepared an excellent gameplan. Offensively he is a great and innovative thinker. Defensively he makes great adjustments. He is preparation and gameplanning is great. When they win here, people will take notice.

Jim Nox : San Francisco 49ers
Surely, the 49ers win. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

Darren Francis : San Francisco 49ers
The leadership on the 49ers is great. You look at guys like Brock Purdy - QB and what he does for a team. Leadership like that helps you win games. When they win here, people will take notice.

Local community praises Duerson

Chicago news report that Bears' SS Dave Duerson has been anonymously donating parts of his salary to local charities.

Week 3: QB Warren Moon (MIN) wins Offensive Player of the Week

The league announced Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon has been named Offensive Player of the Week.

The Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions, 48 to 23. Moon did his part, throwing 3 touchdowns, completing 19 of 27 passes for 449 yards. His outstanding performance now brings his season Touchdown to Interception Ratio to 10 to 2, and a passer rating of 134.9.

Week 3: CB Albert Lewis (OAK) wins Defensive Player of the Week

CB Lewis's ball hawking ability was on display in the Raiders 35-27 game with the San Diego Chargers. He finished with 4 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD.

"Albert has the unique ability to make plays and generate turnovers." -Raiders Defensive Coordinator

Game Recaps for Week 3

Raiders - 35, Chargers - 27
Ravens - 27, Dolphins - 20
Monarchs - 34, Bills - 30
Bengals - 19, Seahawks - 16
Titans - 16, Cardinals - 10
Bears - 38, Commanders - 20
Buccaneers - 35, Giants - 9
Colts - 38, Falcons - 17
Vikings - 48, Lions - 23
49ers - 24, Packers - 22

Game of the Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : New York Giants
Looking at the teams, I agree with the popular opinion that the Giants' offense goes through Mark Clayton - WR. When he is at his best, the Giants offense is like a well oiled machine. But it will be much closer than many think..

Mary Moore : New York Giants
Leadership. You cannot discount the difference it makes. I am thinking of a guy like Howie Long - DE. He will lead the way and help them win. Boy, oh boy am I looking forward to this.

Jim Nox : New York Giants
Head coach Clayton Bigsby does a great job getting them prepared every week. This week will be no different. He is has a really good understanding of what works offensively. He is running an explosive defense. He is really good at analyzing and preparing for opponents. This will really be a statement win.

Darren Francis : Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last game was a fluke. They will win again this week.

Coach Showdown with Simon Sly (Season 1990 Week 3)

Simon Sly is back with this week's edition of Coach Showdown. This is an interesting week.

DICK LEBEAU, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Bengals currently sit at 1-1-0.

Dick LeBeau does not like gambling on defense. Advocating a bend, but don't break mindset. He is serious and unrelenting, asserts his authority and has little tolerance for distractions.
Dick LeBeau runs a None defense. It features primarily zone coverage. He targets the rungame, daring the offense to pass. He wants defensive linemen who can help in runsupport. He wants defensive linemen who can help in runsupport.

They are 7th in sacks with 5.
They are 8th in points allowed, averaging 24.
They are 1st in pass defense with 147 yards given up per game.
They are 19th in run defense. Giving up 213 yards per game.
They are 14th in interceptions with 0.
They are 4th in the league in tackles for loss.
They are 10th in forced fumbles.

LeBeau has a slightly better grasp of coaching defense than Johnson.


JIMMY JOHNSON, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Ravens currently sit at 2-0-0.

Jimmy Johnson wants to stay unpredictable on defense, favoring a balanced approach. He adapts his demeanor to the situation, and does whatever he thinks it takes to get through to his players and co-workers.
Jimmy Johnson runs a None defense. It features primarily zone coverage. He targets the rungame, daring the offense to pass. He wants defensive linemen who can help in runsupport. He wants defensive linemen who can help in runsupport.

They are 8th in sacks with 5.
They are 5th in points allowed, averaging 20.5.
They are 13th in pass defense with 238 yards given up per game.
They are 9th in run defense. Giving up 126 yards per game.
They are 4th in interceptions with 2.
They are 11th in the league in tackles for loss.
They are 5th in forced fumbles.

Week 2: RB Marshawn Lynch (OAK) wins Offensive Player of the Week

Week 2's Offensive Player of the Week is Running Back Marshawn Lynch. His 25 att, 340 yds, 6 TD performance stood out in the 76 to 3 victory for the Oakland Raiders.

The former California gridiron star is racking up the rushing yards and now has 402 Yards and 6 Touchdowns for the season.

Week 2: CB Mark Lee (NYG) wins Defensive Player of the Week

CB Mark Lee of the New York Giants has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. Lee finished with 1 Tck, 4 Int, 2 Def TD.

Game Recaps for Week 2

Chargers - 38, Monarchs - 28
Bills - 20, Dolphins - 14
Seahawks - 35, Lions - 32
Raiders - 76, Cardinals - 3
Titans - 28, Bengals - 14
Falcons - 41, Commanders - 7
Giants - 62, Colts - 7
Ravens - 49, Buccaneers - 24
49ers - 24, Bears - 7
Vikings - 35, Packers - 17

Game of the Week: New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : New York Giants
Look for their defense to dominate.

Mary Moore : New York Giants
A close win.

Jim Nox : New York Giants
I really like their offense.

Darren Francis : New York Giants
When you consider the two rosters, common sense predicts that Dave Butz II - DT will ruin your day on offense. We will be talking about this game for a long time.

Simon Fletcher consoles Packers after loss.

Encouraging words after the Packers - Chargers game. 'I think we played well and showed some things. The Chargers are a good team and we played them well. There is plenty of promise on this roster, and we will be back and get them next time. Until then it is all about working hard to get there.' the 28 year old DE said.

Local community praises Lambeau

Green Bay news report that Packers' CB Curly Lambeau has been anonymously donating parts of his salary to local charities.

Week 1: QB Steve Young (CHI) wins Offensive Player of the Week

The league announced Chicago Bears quarterback Steve Young has been named Offensive Player of the Week.

The Bears defeated the Oakland Raiders, 49 to 3. Young did his part, throwing 4 touchdowns, completing 28 of 37 passes for 326 yards. His outstanding performance now brings his season Touchdown to Interception Ratio to 4 to 0, and a passer rating of 137.9.

Week 1: DE Reggie White (BUF) wins Defensive Player of the Week

DE Reggie White of the Buffalo Bills has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. White finished with 7 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 Sfty.

Game Recaps for Week 1

Bills - 35, Vikings - 27
Ravens - 21, Lions - 17
Colts - 45, 49ers - 14
Monarchs - 38, Seahawks - 7
Bengals - 45, Cardinals - 20
Commanders - 30, Falcons - 24
Buccaneers - 27, Dolphins - 19
Giants - 52, Titans - 0
Bears - 49, Raiders - 3
Chargers - 31, Packers - 28

Investigation clears Ray Finkle - K!

The prosecutor has announced that Ray Finkle been cleared of any suspicion.

Season Predictions

The sports journalists association has published the results of this year's division prediction polls among their twenty top sports journalists.

AFC West: Cincinnati Bengals with 14 votes (Runner up: Seattle Seahawks with 6 votes)

AFC East: Buffalo Bills with 11 votes (Runner up: Baltimore Ravens with 7 votes)

NFC West: Chicago Bears with 10 votes (Runner up: Detroit Lions with 8 votes)

NFC East: Indianapolis Colts with 9 votes (Runner up: New York Giants with 8 votes)

Game of the Week: Baltimore Ravens at Detroit Lions

Our Expert Predictions:

Jeremy Piper : Baltimore Ravens
Leadership. You cannot discount the difference it makes. I am thinking of a guy like Kirk Lowdermilk - C. He will lead the way and help them win. Believe me.

Mary Moore : Baltimore Ravens
They will break their losing streak with a W this week.

Jim Nox : Baltimore Ravens
Looking at the teams, most people agree that Ray Lewis - LB will be a key figure in this game. Do not sleep on this guy's ability. I see a lot of points being scored in this game.

Darren Francis : Detroit Lions
You got to like this defense. We will be talking about this game for a long time.

Training Camp News

Training camps are done! So, what happened? Here are some players that stood out.

These guys had great camps:
Cincinnati Bengals: CB Cordale Flott - CB
Chicago Cardinals: DT Ted Washington - DT
Baltimore Ravens: WR Corey Bradford - WR
Chicago Bears: LB Patrick Willis - LB
Chicago Bears: LB David Ojabo - LB
Minnesota Vikings: TE Daniel Bellinger - TE
San Francisco 49ers: FS Eric Weddle - FS
Indianapolis Colts: LB Jack Sanborn - LB
Indianapolis Colts: LB Brian Asamoah II - LB
Indianapolis Colts: LB Luke Masterson - LB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Martin Emerson Jr - CB


These guys were underwhelming to say the least:
Buffalo Bills: LB David Little - LB
Baltimore Ravens: TE Ken Whisenhunt - TE

Post Free Agency Retirements

The following players have retired after going unsigned through free agency:
RB Andra Franklin - RB
RB Alfred Anderson - RB
G R.C. Thielemann - G
G Joe Bostic - G
G Tyroil Smoochie-Wallace - G
G Charley Hannah - G
G Mark Cooper - G
G Shawn Bouwens - G
G Manuel Ramirez - G
T George Yarno - T
T Leonard Mitchell - T
T Bill Contz - T
WR Earnest Gray - WR
WR Jamaica Rector - WR
WR Erik Ezukanma - WR
WR Deven Thompkins - WR
WR Jalen Virgil - WR
WR Montrell Washington - WR
WR Patrick Jeffers - WR
CB Roynell Young - CB
CB Fred Bennett - CB
CB Dustin Fox - CB
CB Paul Lankford - CB
CB Christian Holmes - CB
CB Mario Goodrich - CB
CB Josh Jobe - CB
LB Al Richardson - LB
LB Gary Spani - LB
LB Jim Ryan - LB
LB Alvin Toles - LB
LB Greg Gaines - LB
LB Angelo King - LB
LB LaCurtis Jones - LB
LB Omar Gaither - LB
LB Terry Crews - LB
LB Jeff Brady - LB
LB Mel Kaufman - LB
LB Bumper Pool - LB
LB Darien Butler - LB
DT Matt Toeaina - DT
DT Derrick Jones - DT
DT McKinley Boykin - DT
DT Brian Sochia - DT
DT Mike Halapin - DT
DT Fred Smerlas - DT
DT David Galloway - DT
DE Casey Merrill - DE
DE Mel Agee - DE
DE Eyioma Uwazurike - DE
DE Tony Simmons - DE
DE Brian Robison - DE
FS Tom Flynn - FS
FS Duane Galloway - FS
FS Anthony Florence - FS
FS Percy Butler - FS
FS Sammy Walker - FS
FS Floyd Fields - FS
FS Tony Lilly - FS

FB Chris Floyd (N/A) has retired!

FB Chris Floyd - FB (64 ovr) has retired after failing to get signed in free agency.

T Robert Hicks (N/A) has retired!

T Robert Hicks - T (71 ovr) has retired after failing to get signed in free agency.

TE Armani Rogers (N/A) has retired!

TE Armani Rogers - TE (69 ovr) has retired after failing to get signed in free agency.

RB Mike Reed (N/A) has retired!

RB Mike Reed - RB (65 ovr) has retired after failing to get signed in free agency.

WR Anthony Ladd (N/A) has retired!

WR Anthony Ladd - WR (69 ovr) has retired after failing to get signed in free agency.

QB Peyton Manning (CIN) goes #1 overall!

NEW YORK -- The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Peyton Manning #1 overall in the 1990 draft. The 6' 5" QB fits the team's needs perfectly. Said Bengals general manager: "It's up to us to develop him and get good players around him."

"The great thing about the game of football is, it's a team game," Manning said on a conference call. "I'm just going to be one piece of the puzzle."

Moore and Nox Mock Draft

Pick 1: Cincinnati Bengals
Larry Moore: Randy Moss - WR
He is driven by the love of the sport. He takes care of his teammates. Most everyone who ever played with him, counts him as their friend. His hands are so good, you would not believe it. Snatches the ball out of the air right in front of defenders. What do you see on his tape? So fast. Crazy fast. Runs pretty routes. Changes direction effortlessly. Some might say this is a 'need' pick, but we must remember, this is a really good player as well. He will contribute early and often. No losers here.

Jim Nox: Peyton Manning - QB
He reads defenses like a veteran. Delivers the ball with superb accuracy. Delivers with zip. Fans might not be on board with what can be framed as a need pick. But trust me once they see this kid play, they will be more than happy.

Pick 2: Chicago Bears
Larry Moore: Hines Ward - WR
Teammates gravitate toward him, they follow his lead. Coaches love that about him. When you watch him you rarely see him drop the ball. The kid has enough speed to go deep, and that is all you want. Cuts with quickness, and will become a great route runner. When the available talent fits what you need, there is reason to celebrate. They are getting a great talent who will serve them for many years.

Jim Nox: Randy Moss - WR
He is driven by the love of the sport. Well liked in the locker room. His hands are so good, you would not believe it. Snatches the ball out of the air right in front of defenders. With this guy on the field, no opponent will dare to put safeties in the box. Coaches love the thought of this. Cuts with quickness, and will become a great route runner. This guy is available. This guy fills a need. They have to take him. It makes so much sense.

Pick 3: San Diego Chargers
Larry Moore: Chuck Howley - LB
The kind of leadership he shows makes coaches salivate. Linebackers must tackle. This guy is not only superb at it. He also hits cleanly and with great force. Coaches and players alike respect that. Really strong for a Linebacker. This is something that teams love. A sack master in college, and with this kind of quickness it is easy to see him continue that at the pro level. Take the blue-chip player. Do not worry about sexier picks. He fits what you need and the quality is there.

Jim Nox: Chuck Howley - LB
Teammates look to him for leadership, and he consistently delivers. Linebackers must tackle. This guy is not only superb at it. He also hits cleanly and with great force. Coaches and players alike respect that. Could almost play Defensive End, he is that strong. Coaches love that versatility. So fast. You could drop him into coverage if you wanted. If you miss your block on this guy, he will be in the face of the QB before he has even finished dropping back. They would be crazy not to take him here. A great fit, both in terms of what they need and the quality of player they get. This will put a smile on many faces.

Pick 4: Washington Commanders
Larry Moore: Peyton Manning - QB
A truly cerebral player. If a pass goes incomplete, more often that not, it is the receiver who did not catch it. Nice arm, will be even better in a couple of seasons. Fill a need, get a quality player, everyone wins! He will fit right in with the pros.

Jim Nox: Roger Wehrli - CB
Teammates gravitate toward him, they follow his lead. Coaches love that about him. If you ask around, everyone will tell you, this kid is all about the team. Few players will beat him in the forty. It is all about fit here. Is there a guy at a position of need, worthy of a pick this high? The answer, obviously, is 'heck yeah'.

Pick 5: Oakland Raiders
Larry Moore: Takeo Spikes - LB
Consistent tackler. This is a young man who has enough strength to shed blocks. Did I mention strength?. This young man is fast enough to drop even the fast RBs for losses is they come his way. This guy is available. This guy fills a need. They have to take him. It makes so much sense.

Jim Nox: Takeo Spikes - LB
No nonsense tackler. The expectation is that his strength will translate into fumbles. It will definitely help him shed blocks and produce big hits. This young man is fast enough to drop even the fast RBs for losses is they come his way. They will be running to the podium for this one.

Pick 6: Green Bay Packers
Larry Moore: Jim Kelly - QB
This kid puts in the work. He is fundamentally a good kid. You rarely see him commit stupid penalties. He reads the field well. He has good throwing mechanics. Has the arm strength to keep defenses on their toes. Plug a hole in the roster with a great player. That is really what they need to do. This pick does it.

Jim Nox: Jim Kelly - QB
This guy understands what it means to be a pro. He is fundamentally a good kid. You rarely see him commit stupid penalties. Plays with intelligence. He is accurate enough to place the ball where the receiver can make the play. Will not leave the ball floating in the air, can deliver it low and hard. Fits the bill, great quality pick, and fills a soft spot on the roster. They should have no qualms here, run to the podium and get your man.

Pick 7: New York Giants
Larry Moore: Pat Swilling - LB
Intangibles, leadership, what's not to love? This kid breeds synergy, teams play better when he is on the field. Tackles with good leverage. Rarely lets people go. In college, he dominated when bull rushing. He is strong enough that he can continue to do that in the pros. Mightily fast on his first step. Could become a true sack machine. When the available talent fits what you need, there is reason to celebrate. They are getting a great talent who will serve them for many years.

Jim Nox: Pat Swilling - LB
Not afraid to lead. Teammates love him. All he cares about is the team. He helps everyone succeed. He has a well developed tackling technique. Coaches like that. In college, he dominated when bull rushing. He is strong enough that he can continue to do that in the pros. Great first step. Defensive Ends with this speed tend to go high. The obvious reason is that teams love to get this kind of immediate pressure off the edge. They will be running to the podium for this one.

Pick 8: New York Jets
Larry Moore: Roger Wehrli - CB
His leadership is through the roof. He is on the frontline, always. Raised to know the value of teamwork. With speed like his, he is set up to be one of the best at his position. With this kid, this is a need pick they will not regret.

Jim Nox: Hines Ward - WR
Coaches love the leadership skills in this kid. Rarely drops the ball. Add more speed to the offense. Why would you not? Has the ability to change direction fluidly, which will allow him to work will over the middle. They would be crazy not to take him here. A great fit, both in terms of what they need and the quality of player they get. This will put a smile on many faces.

Pick 9: Cincinnati Bengals
Larry Moore: Alan Faneca - G
He blocks in the running game with great leverage and technique. Very coachable. That is an important trait for a guy you want to draft this early. They need him now. Well yesterday actually. They will love him tomorrow. They will revere him by the end of his career.

Jim Nox: Alan Faneca - G
Teams are always looking for run blockers with a mean streak. This kid fit that bill. He run blocks like a beast. Can be relied upon to understand his role on any given play. Are there other guys worth picking here? Sure, but none of them fit this well with what they need, and he is a solid talent.

Pick 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Larry Moore: R.W. McQuarters - SS
Due to his work ethic, this kid is very coachable. This is a kid who really contributes to the team spirit and the social cohesiveness on the team. Comes down from his safety position at blazing speed on blitzes. Runs well in coverage, even when required to run with faster receivers. Scouts like how well he tackles. Solid talent that fits their needs. Really that is all there is to it. Perfect situation. Take the money and run.

Jim Nox: Patrick Surtain - CB
Teammates gravitate toward him, they follow his lead. Coaches love that about him. Nice speed. Will allow him to do a lot of things. Do not fret. You need him, fans love him. Surefire pick.

Offseason Team Needs with Jeremy Piper

With a new offseason under way, some rosters are in good shape. However, other teams have big needs to address this offseason. Your always trusty Jeremy Piper here brings you a quick glance at the teams with work to do. Whether they fill their needs in the draft or with veterans in free agency remains to be seen.

Here we go:
New York Jets: RB T C TE WR CB LB DT SS
Oakland Raiders: QB G WR CB LB
Cincinnati Bengals: QB G C WR LB DT DE FS SS
Seattle Seahawks: T C LB DT
Chicago Cardinals: QB G T WR DT SS
Buffalo Bills: T LB DT SS
Miami Dolphins: G C WR CB DE
San Diego Chargers: QB RB G TE CB LB DT SS
London Monarchs: T C
Baltimore Ravens: QB LB DT DE SS
Green Bay Packers: QB G TE CB DE
Chicago Bears: G WR DT DE SS
Minnesota Vikings: QB WR CB LB
Detroit Lions: QB RB
San Francisco 49ers: RB C CB DT DE SS
Washington Commanders: QB G T C CB FS SS
New York Giants: G T C LB DE
Indianapolis Colts: G DT
Atlanta Falcons: RB G T TE WR CB LB DT SS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB CB SS

Draft Order: Washington Commanders own first overall.

Pick 1: Washington Commanders
Pick 2: Oakland Raiders
Pick 3: New York Giants
Pick 4: New York Jets
Pick 5: Kansas City Chiefs
Pick 6: Green Bay Packers
Pick 7: Cincinnati Bengals
Pick 8: Cincinnati Bengals (from Chicago Bears)
Pick 9: Chicago Bears (from Chicago Cardinals)
Pick 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Atlanta Falcons)
Pick 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from London Monarchs)
Pick 13: Green Bay Packers (from Seattle Seahawks)
Pick 14: San Francisco 49ers
Pick 15: Detroit Lions
Pick 16: Cincinnati Bengals (from Baltimore Ravens)
Pick 17: Minnesota Vikings
Pick 18: Buffalo Bills
Pick 19: Miami Dolphins
Pick 20: Indianapolis Colts

Ray Finkle - K under criminal investigation!

It looks like the off field troubles of Ray Finkle have finally caught up with him. Local news reports that a criminal investigation has been launched looking into previous criminal misconduct of Finkle. The league has reiterated that standard policy is to await results from the criminal investigation before deciding on any punishment.

The Vikings have yet to comment on the situation.

To Dan Marino - QB, the past is the past.

Dan Marino is a great story, having worked his way out of a troubled youth. To many, Marino is becoming a posterboy for the league's ability to help talented young men rehabilitate themselves through sports.

Active Player Retirements

Kansas City Chiefs:
DT Bob Golic (5 seasons) 55 Tck, 5 Sck, 2 FF

Oakland Raiders:
LB Cliff Odom (5 seasons) 545 Tck, 10 Sck, 7 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 Sfty, 15 FF, 8 FR

Seattle Seahawks:
CB Hanford Dixon (5 seasons) 389 Tck, 4 Sck, 8 Int, 10 FF, 3 FR

Buffalo Bills:
LB Bobby Boucher (3 seasons) 227 Tck, 19 Sck, 4 FF, 2 FR

Baltimore Ravens:
CB Dwayne Woodruff (5 seasons) 244 Tck, 2 Sck, 8 Int, 3 Def TD, 6 FF, 2 FR

Chicago Bears:
G Kurt Becker (5 seasons) 200 Pancakes

Minnesota Vikings:
G Petey Perot (5 seasons) 87 Pancakes
FB Craig James (5 seasons) 248 att, 1165 yds, 37 TD, 49 rec, 491 yds, 3 TD

Detroit Lions:
C Rich Umphrey (5 seasons) 133 Pancakes

San Francisco 49ers:
C Bart Oates (5 seasons) 235 Pancakes

Washington Commanders:
RB Stump Mitchell (5 seasons) 359 att, 1758 yds, 12 TD, 25 rec, 248 yds, 1 TD

Atlanta Falcons:
G Kent Hill (5 seasons) 348 Pancakes
RB Eric Dickerson (5 seasons) 1736 att, 7674 yds, 39 TD, 149 rec, 1339 yds, 4 TD

Notable free agent retirements

QB:
Doug Nussmeier (4 seasons pro) 76/136, 1331 yds, 11 TD
Jeff Brohm (4 seasons pro) 1/1, 9 yds, 0 TD

RB:
Lorenzo Hampton (5 seasons pro) 80 att, 394 yds, 7 TD, 3 rec, 35 yds, 1 TD
Eddie Lee Ivery (5 seasons pro) 62 att, 151 yds, 1 TD, 11 rec, 79 yds, 1 TD
Tommy Vigorito (5 seasons pro) 8 att, 39 yds, 2 TD
Mel Carver (5 seasons pro) 97 att, 441 yds, 1 TD
Allen Rice (5 seasons pro) 46 att, 202 yds, 3 TD, 7 rec, 20 yds, 0 TD

FB:
Jessie Clark (5 seasons pro) 4 att, 15 yds, 0 TD

G:
Brent Boyd (5 seasons pro) 146 Pancakes

T:
Cody Risien (5 seasons pro) 197 Pancakes
Keith Dorney (5 seasons pro) 204 Pancakes
Karl Baldischwiler (5 seasons pro) 117 Pancakes
Ron Essink (5 seasons pro) 74 Pancakes
Tunch Ilkin (5 seasons pro) 67 Pancakes
Karl Swanke (5 seasons pro) 22 Pancakes

C:
Dwight Stephenson (5 seasons pro) 167 Pancakes

TE:
Mickey Shuler (5 seasons pro) 186 rec, 1317 yds, 8 TD
Jimmie Giles (5 seasons pro) 116 rec, 923 yds, 6 TD
Sean Manuel (4 seasons pro) 7 rec, 44 yds, 0 TD

WR:
Wes Chandler (5 seasons pro) 159 rec, 1658 yds, 19 TD
Bobby Duckworth (5 seasons pro) 15 rec, 253 yds, 2 TD
Jessie Hester (5 seasons pro) 11 rec, 99 yds, 1 TD

CB:
LeRoy Irvin (5 seasons pro) 238 Tck, 6 Int, 4 FF, 4 FR
Terry Taylor (5 seasons pro) 27 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

LB:
Jerry Robinson (5 seasons pro) 365 Tck, 11 Sck, 2 Int, 4 FF, 1 FR
Ken Fantetti (5 seasons pro) 339 Tck, 6 Sck, 1 Int, 7 FF, 3 FR
Tony Caldwell (5 seasons pro) 61 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF
Ron Simpkins (5 seasons pro) 68 Tck, 4 Sck
Rich Milot (5 seasons pro) 60 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Int, 2 FF

DT:
Barry Bennett (5 seasons pro) 22 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
Mike Stensrud (5 seasons pro) 33 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
Jon Kirksey (4 seasons pro) 4 Tck

DE:
Bruce Clark (5 seasons pro) 20 Tck, 5 Sck, 2 FF

FS:
Lawrence Johnson (5 seasons pro) 79 Tck, 2 Int, 1 FR
Reggie Phillips (5 seasons pro) 19 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR

K:
Nick Lowery (5 seasons pro) 108/147 FG
Kevin Butler (5 seasons pro) 35/48 FG
Eric Schubert (5 seasons pro) 27/37 FG

Other retirements

QB Drew Stanton (77 ovr)
QB Jordan Palmer (76 ovr)
QB Jared Lorenzen (73 ovr)
QB Ron Jaworski II (73 ovr)
QB Tanner Mordecai (72 ovr)
QB JaMarcus Russell (73 ovr)
QB Todd Marinovich (70 ovr)
QB Eric Hipple (67 ovr)
QB Matt Gutierrez (66 ovr)
QB David Archer (60 ovr)
QB Jeff Rowe (58 ovr)
RB Pierre Thomas (78 ovr)
RB Dwayne Wright (77 ovr)
RB Fred McAfee (73 ovr)
RB Gerald Willhite (70 ovr)
RB Jackie Battle (69 ovr)
RB Charles Ali (68 ovr)
RB Gary Russell (67 ovr)
RB Jeff Smith (69 ovr)
RB Tony Hunt (67 ovr)
RB Gilbert Harris (68 ovr)
RB Brian Satterfield (67 ovr)
RB Eric Bieniemy (68 ovr)
RB Brian Leonard (66 ovr)
RB Brandon Jackson (66 ovr)
RB Kolby Smith (66 ovr)
RB Byron Storer (65 ovr)
RB Gary Ellerson (64 ovr)
RB Thomas Clayton (63 ovr)
RB Ethan Horton (64 ovr)
RB Ken Jenkins (64 ovr)
RB Jason Snelling (62 ovr)
FB Chuck Webb (67 ovr)
FB Oren O'Neal (64 ovr)
FB Le'Ron McClain (56 ovr)
G Reggie Redding (72 ovr)
G Ron Baker (71 ovr)
G Ken Blackman (68 ovr)
G Emil Boures (62 ovr)
T Brad Benson (77 ovr)
T Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (72 ovr)
T Caleb Jones (68 ovr)
T Jason Odom (68 ovr)
T Christian Gaddis (67 ovr)
T Adam Koets (66 ovr)
T Dan McQuaid (65 ovr)
T Michael Toudouze (58 ovr)
T Corey Hilliard (62 ovr)
T Dave Lutz (59 ovr)
T Renardo Foster (55 ovr)
C Lyle Sendlein (73 ovr)
C Joe Fields (67 ovr)
C Guy Morriss (69 ovr)
C Wesley French (65 ovr)
C Robert Turner (65 ovr)
C Josh Beekman (57 ovr)
C Fred Quillan (56 ovr)
C Blair Bush (52 ovr)
TE Keith Cash (72 ovr)
TE John Dekker (71 ovr)
TE Don Hasselbeck (69 ovr)
TE Dan Ross (69 ovr)
TE Jake Nordin (65 ovr)
TE Rudy Sylvan (65 ovr)
TE Troy Bienemann (65 ovr)
TE Scott Chandler (62 ovr)
TE Dante Rosario (62 ovr)
TE Daniel Coats (62 ovr)
TE Joe Rose (62 ovr)
TE Matt Spaeth (59 ovr)
TE Jason Pociask (57 ovr)
WR Velus Jones Jr (73 ovr)
WR Yamon Figurs (70 ovr)
WR Chris McFoy (68 ovr)
WR Anthony Gonzalez (66 ovr)
WR Isaiah Stanback (67 ovr)
WR Derek Stanley (67 ovr)
WR Stacey Bailey (66 ovr)
WR Britain Covey (65 ovr)
WR John Broussard (60 ovr)
WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (65 ovr)
WR Charlie Brown (65 ovr)
WR Jason Hill (64 ovr)
WR Legedu Naanee (64 ovr)
WR Ben Obomanu (63 ovr)
WR Ryne Robinson (63 ovr)
WR Craig Davis (63 ovr)
WR Aundrae Allison (64 ovr)
WR Gregg Garrity (63 ovr)
WR Steve Bryant (63 ovr)
WR Phillip Epps (63 ovr)
WR Ron Johnson (62 ovr)
WR Herkie Walls (63 ovr)
CB Dallis Flowers (74 ovr)
CB Tre Avery (73 ovr)
CB Tarell Brown (70 ovr)
CB Christian Matthew (73 ovr)
CB Kevin Hobbs (71 ovr)
CB Chase Lucas (68 ovr)
CB Jonathan Wade (68 ovr)
CB Miles McPherson (69 ovr)
CB Alan Ball (66 ovr)
CB Sam Washington (66 ovr)
CB Lyle Blackwood (65 ovr)
CB Dante Hughes (66 ovr)
CB David Pittman (62 ovr)
CB John Bowie (64 ovr)
CB Brannon Condren (63 ovr)
CB Odis McKinney (67 ovr)
CB Kevin Scott (65 ovr)
CB Michael Adams (62 ovr)
CB Willie Teal (62 ovr)
CB Grant Mason (61 ovr)
CB Corey Graham (60 ovr)
CB Michael Coe (59 ovr)
LB Lawrence Timmons (74 ovr)
LB Desmond Bishop (72 ovr)
LB Anthony Dickerson (67 ovr)
LB Pago Togafau (62 ovr)
LB Tim McGarigle (68 ovr)
LB Tony Taylor (67 ovr)
LB Nate Harris (66 ovr)
LB Kelvin Smith (67 ovr)
LB Paul Posluszny (64 ovr)
LB Justin Durant (67 ovr)
LB Korey Hall (67 ovr)
LB Jackie Shipp (66 ovr)
LB Mark Washington (64 ovr)
LB Brandon Archer (63 ovr)
LB Marvin Mitchell (66 ovr)
LB Zak DeOssie (66 ovr)
LB James Haynes (65 ovr)
LB Zach Diles (62 ovr)
LB Tim Shaw (64 ovr)
LB Sabby Piscitelli (64 ovr)
LB Edmond Miles (66 ovr)
LB Adam Hayward (66 ovr)
LB Chad Nkang (64 ovr)
LB Jim Collins (65 ovr)
LB John Woodring (64 ovr)
LB Will Herring (63 ovr)
LB Stephen Nicholas (64 ovr)
LB Brandon Siler (61 ovr)
LB Marques Murrell (61 ovr)
LB Jason Trusnik (60 ovr)
LB Ed Brady (61 ovr)
LB Scot Brantley (62 ovr)
LB Dave Ahrens (62 ovr)
LB Mike Jones (61 ovr)
LB Prescott Burgess (58 ovr)
LB Johnny Baldwin (58 ovr)
LB Ramon Guzman (59 ovr)
LB Blake Costanzo (57 ovr)
DT Ryan Kuehl (71 ovr)
DT Rhett Hall (66 ovr)
DT Trey Lewis (61 ovr)
DT Chris Sullivan (63 ovr)
DT Dennis Owens (61 ovr)
DT Daniel Muir (60 ovr)
DT Emile Palmer (61 ovr)
DT Steven Harris (58 ovr)
DT Louis Leonard (60 ovr)
DT Andy Harmon (61 ovr)
DT David Rocker (57 ovr)
DT Eric Holle (59 ovr)
DT Mark Shumate (60 ovr)
DT Steve Fifita (58 ovr)
DT Marcus Thomas (59 ovr)
DT Karl Morgan (57 ovr)
DT Dan Benish (60 ovr)
DT Doug English (58 ovr)
DT Kareem Brown (56 ovr)
DT Brandon Mebane (56 ovr)
DT Jim Wilks (56 ovr)
DT Willard Goff (58 ovr)
DT Chuck Ehin (56 ovr)
DE Dave Tollefson (77 ovr)
DE Micheal Clemons (69 ovr)
DE Lamar Rogers (67 ovr)
DE Jeremy Mincey (66 ovr)
DE Baraka Atkins (65 ovr)
DE Mike DeVito (67 ovr)
DE Tyrone Keys (64 ovr)
DE Greg Brown (66 ovr)
DE Greg Peterson (62 ovr)
DE Copeland Bryan (64 ovr)
DE Kerwin Waldroup (66 ovr)
DE Adam Carriker (62 ovr)
DE Victor Abiamiri (63 ovr)
DE Tim Crowder (61 ovr)
DE Keith Ferguson (61 ovr)
DE Dave Stalls (59 ovr)
DE Bob Hamm (61 ovr)
DE Dwaine Board (58 ovr)
DE Mike Bell (58 ovr)
FS Jerome Henderson (77 ovr)
FS Michael Johnson (67 ovr)
FS Ken Stills (67 ovr)
FS Anthony Young (68 ovr)
FS Sean Thomas (67 ovr)
FS Daren Stone (66 ovr)
FS Tuff Harris (62 ovr)
FS Courtney Bryan (63 ovr)
FS Keith Nord (62 ovr)
FS Darius Vinnett (57 ovr)
SS Otis Smith (73 ovr)
SS Brenden Schooler (71 ovr)
SS D'Anthony Bell (69 ovr)
SS Marcus Paschal (66 ovr)
SS Audray McMillian (65 ovr)
SS Quinton Teal (64 ovr)
SS Rich Miano (62 ovr)
SS Chris Reis (60 ovr)
SS Roderick Rogers (60 ovr)
SS Terry Hoage (62 ovr)
SS Kirk Springs (61 ovr)
SS Ted Watts (59 ovr)
SS Kevin Payne (58 ovr)
K Justin Medlock (59 ovr)
P Nolan Cooney (61 ovr)
P Adam Podlesh (59 ovr)
P Sam Paulescu (58 ovr)
P Brandon Fields (58 ovr)
P Daniel Sepulveda (55 ovr)