Andrew Neiman's NFL Football fan blog

There's nothing quite like it. Cheap ticket prices, amazing warm weather, the smell of hot dogs & freshly cut grass on the baseball diamond in February and early March. It's that time of the year again with Spring Training rolling around and getting us all excited for the upcoming 2008 MLB season. It's also time to make some bold predictions for the long season ahead of us. Of course with injuries, the inevitability of a surprise team, and a little lack of better judgement, predicting the MLB season is incredibly difficult to do. However, after looking at all the new free agent pickups, new coaches, and using basic instinct, I've come up with my predictions for the 2008 season. Some of my predictions may sound crazy, but the baseball season usually plays out that way, I mean who predicted the Rockies to go that far last season? Enjoy, because it's sure to cause some argument.

Continue reading "Bold MLB 2008 Season Predictions & Preview: Mets don't win division?"

With plenty of activity within the past week involving Free Agent signings (& trades) in the NFL, lots of names get lost in the shuffle.  I've taken some time to recap all the free agent signings so far with the big names and the not so big names and briefly analyze if it is a good move, ok move or bad move for the team.

According to Foxsports.com, one year after saying he wanted out of Chicago during a contract impasse, Lance Briggs has decided he wants to be a Bear for the next several years.Briggs has agreed to a six-year deal with the Bears that includes $13 million in guaranteed money and 36 million overall.

ANALYSIS: OK MOVE

In the Bears defensive scheme, it is the effectiveness of the nose tackles that makes the middle linebacker more or less effective. It has nothing to do with the outside linebackers. Briggs played well without Urlacher and with him.  Urlacher does make anyone playing next to him better, but Briggs is a good player himself.  The only problem I have with Briggs is that he really hurt the unity of the team last year with all his off the field problems and trade rumors.  While Briggs is a good player, it does mean less money (or none) will go towards a new quarterback, running back, or offensive lineman which are what the Bears really need.

Continue reading "NFL Free Agent Signings & Analysis-Who made great moves? (as of 3/1/08)"

You know those old tales of good and evil where the devil tries to tempt a man on earth with great treasures and power in return for his soul? 

Remnants of that tale immediately came to mind once I heard that Sam Zell, the new owner of the Chicago Cubs and CEO of the Chicago Tribune, publicly stated that he will sell the naming rights of Wrigley Field.  I immediately thought of the outrage that this would stir among Cub fans and baseball purists.  Now, I am a die hard Cub fan and as tough as it has been not to show any real bias towards this controversy, hearing about this news really ticked me off. Selling the naming rights of Wrigley Field is just disrespectful to the loyal fans, the game itself, and the Chicago Cubs organization.  Sam Zell is a man that is already filthy rich and I understand that business is business and he wants to turn the Chicago Tribune back around, but this is not the way to do it. 

Continue reading "Selling your Soul: Zell plans to sell naming rights of Wrigley Field"

The experts in the 2006 NFL Combine may have missed something.  He ran a 4.55 40 yard dash, had about a 10 foot broad jump, and ran a 11.27 60-yard shuffle.  In case you were wondering, these aren't exactly impressive numbers for a NFL wide receiver.  While the rookie from Hoftstra wasn't exactly high on anyone’s boards, he did get drafted.  Marques Colston was the fourth to last pick.  Experts will tell you that a good combine will translate into a successful rookie campaign in the NFL.  However, Colston's average combine times translated into 8 touchdowns, 1038 yards and 70 catches on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year award.  In the past few years, Colston has become Drew Brees favorite target in the high powered Saints offense.  

Continue reading "The NFL Combine: Overhyped & Overrated?"

It happens every year.  Someone will make the terrible mistake of filling out their brackets according to ESPN or a network like CBS Sports.  Then they find out that these so called "experts" never seem to get their picks right.  They are "experts" right?  C'mon people they are only human, but if there's one thing March Madness has taught me the past few years, it's that you're probably better off filling in your bracket blindfold than listening to the sports networks. Well, kind of. Just don't be upset if your sisters picks end up being better than yours.

Continue reading "Bracket Buster Weekend: It's that time of the year again"