The Crystal Ball 2013 Week 11

Ok, do I have to take Nick Foles seriously now? Because when I look at him all I see is Napoleon Dynamite. I keep waiting for him to show up before a game rocking a Vote for Pedro t-shirt and moon boots.

Opening Kickoff

Good for the Jaguars and Buccaneers for  getting off the schneid. Although you both kind of hurt your draft position. Some teams can't win for losing.

The Way It Was

Wow, did Desean Jackson ever have a sweet catch as two Packer defensive backs tackled each other.

Oh did I ever LOVE the successful hail mary the Bengals executed against Ravens at end of game! Of course, I equally hated when they turned into the Bungles in overtime.

Hello Carolina Panthers, consider me officially paying attention.

I guess the NFL has figured out how to stop Colin Kaepernick and the read option. I wonder if Jim Harbaugh looks at Kansas City and Alex Smith and their 9-0 record with sellers remorse.

Peyton Manning suffered an owie, and a mini meltdown, near the end of last week's game that required an MRI and some hand wringing in Denver.

Titans quarterback Jake Locker is done for the season. That's a shame too, since he was starting to show real progress.

Matt Flynn, after stops in Seattle and Oakland, is back with the Pack! Get ready for another 6 touchdown game!

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley may be done for his career. Here's hoping he can have a normal, productive life if his career is over.

The Texans got tired of Ed Reed's mouth, poor play and big paycheck and released the safety. I find that hilarious.

Richie Incognito filed a grievance against the Dolphins over his indefinite suspension. He really is just clueless. He really can't see how he did wrong.

The Steel Pit

Steelers 23 - Bills 10

All around a very good game! Yes, I know, Buffalo is not a top tier team, but they do have a decent running game and defense. And heck, in seasons like this one, any win is good.

So, did I get to revel in a good game and a sweet, rare win? No. I had to hear all week about the dumb Roethlisberger rumors that the quarterback would seek a trade after the season that swirled around Pittsburgh before, during and then after the game.

After the game, Roethlisberger adamantly denied the rumors and did his best to debunk the story, his purported unhappiness with the direction of the team, his rift with the coaching staff and desire to leave the team and city.

The team, and the Rooneys, did their best to do the same. However, by week's end, the nonsense was back, with the alleged sources claiming that the team was unhappy with Roethlisberger, his work ethic away from the team and fully expected him to seek a trade after the season.

Again, Roethlisberger went to the press to deny the nonsense. Now, I'm no fool. It's pretty obvious that Roethlisberger has not been happy with the offensive direction of the team over the past two seasons. And who could blame him for that. Over the last few years, they messily got rid of his confidant in Bruce Arians, gave him a sub par offensive line and skill position players, brought in an offensive coordinator that not only dumbed down his game, but claimed to be doing so to keep Roethlisberger safe yet he's been hit and sacked more than ever and questioned his playing style even though that style won two Super Bowls. It's pretty easy to see how he would be mad.

But he's not that kind of guy. He would equate asking for a trade as quitting, and he is not a quitter. He can't play forever, and most likely he will not finish his career with the Steelers. It's increasingly rare for players to finish with the team they started. That's just reality. but when this relationship will end, I believe it won't be from Ben demanding a trade or the Rooney's trading Ben because they don't think he does enough homework. What a stupid waste of time, and thank you for that Ian Rapoport and Mike Silver. Now, tell your "Steelers source" Bruce Arians to get over his bitterness and go play with Carson Palmer.

As an addendum, Rapoport is at it again, stating today that Ben's frustrations come down to losing and money. He wants less losing and more dough. Please note in this story, there's no source Rapoport is even referring to at this point. It would appear he is just making up a story without any real facts or sources and the more he continues with these stories, the more it's looking like he just has an axe to grind against either Ben, the Steelers or both.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Disgruntled Giants fans booed a dog that was part of the halftime show. Who boos a dog? Boy, New York fans are just miserable.

A Chargers fan was fined $280 for throwing a football while tailgating. See California, its stuff like this where you get that reputation of being weird.

Speaking of the Chargers, it would appear actress Anne Hathaway is a Danny Woodhead fan. Now that is very cool! I guess guys can have attractive admirers when Tom Brady's not around.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is appalled by the Martin/Incognito story. What, he's just now appalled? Maybe someone should have woke this guy up earlier than now.

Former receiver Sam Hurd, who was recently sentenced to prison for drug trafficking, said he smoked weed every day he was in the NFL. So much for random drug testing.

MMA fighter Jon Jones wants to go a few rounds with Richie Incognito. Now there's a pay per view I'd pay to watch.

Bills head coach Doug Marrone gets so frustrated after a loss he won't pet his dog. Man, poor dog, he's gonna feel abandoned until January.

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, a professed lover of video games, waited in line for the new PS4 release and bought systems for others waiting in line. Alright, that balances out his raving ding dong act on the sideline for me, since I'm a sucker for random acts of generosity.

Upon Further Review

Offensive lineman John Moffitt of the Denver Broncos recently retired abruptly from the league. This week, he spoke out, stating he no longer felt passion for the game, did not want to have a future full of medical problems and blasted the NFL as a dirty business.

ESPN's Rick Reilly penned an article outlining his increasing consternation with being a fan of the NFL, and how now as more information comes out, how he has so much trouble reconciling enjoying a game that damages its participants so.

NBC's Bob Costas and former player Brett Favre also hit the media this week, both stating that if they had sons, they would have serious misgivings of them playing football or would outright not let them play.

The remarks and opinions of these gentlemen highlight a coming sea change with how the game of football will be played, viewed and experienced in the future. Fans, players, coaches, teams and the media long ago reconciled our feelings about the physical punishment players absorb over a career. We not only accepted, but lionized those who put their bodies on the line for glory. NFL Films rose to prominence glorifying the punishment, pain and perseverance of the manliest of men.

But with the increasing awareness regarding concussions, the damage head trauma does in the short term and long term and watching players take their own lives instead of suffering any more is causing everyone to re-evaluate how they view the game and their continued involvement.

I do not hold the opinions of these men against them. I do believe we all will have to look at ourselves and our beliefs as we realize the game, as currently played, is not merely exacting a toll on the bodies of the participants, but their minds as well. Without changes, I imagine there will be a noticeable change in viewer ship as well as attendance. It's one thing to look at a retired player with a limp and think, wow he really gave his all, and another to look at a retired player and wonder if your entertainment means now he's a vegetable.

But I do have issue with all of them for so rapidly trying to distance themselves from the league and its violence during this crossroads. Each of these men has made a living, and a reputation, thanks to the game of football. Without this game, I question if any of them would have had a career even remotely as successful or even ever have made it into the public eye. They owe their livelihood, wealth and fame to football.

So I find it disingenuous that during the game of football's hour of need, these gentlemen would turn their backs. They have all spent years reaping the benefits of their association with football yet now when the game needs them the most, they are the first to turn and vilify the game and its purveyors.

Each of these men are in a unique and powerful position thanks to their fame and influence, both provided by football. They could use these positions to affect positive change in the game of football that would not only make it safer for professional participants, but the amateur participants across the country who play only for the love of the game. Their words and platforms could easily push the conversation towards safer practices and equipment, more transparency and honesty from the NFL and smarter coaching techniques that would work toward eliminating head shots and create a better product.

Instead, these men have chosen these forums to lead the dog pile upon the NFL, turn their backs on the meal ticket they no longer need in order to paint themselves as socially conscious people who care about the players. Well, I'm not buying it. To me, the only people they care about are themselves and their popularity. If they truly cared about the players, they would work to make the game safer for those currently playing, and future players. Until they use their influence and sway to affect real change for the better in the game, anything they say is merely part of the problem, and further delays any real solutions.

He Said He Said

"Leslie Frazier is not going anywhere. I am telling you that we are very committed to Leslie Frazier and this coaching staff." - Vikings general manager Rick Spielman

Yeah, Frazier's done.

"Mike Smith is a hell of a football coach; he's the leader of this team. Mike's going nowhere." - Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff

Uh oh, sounds like the coaching carousel is about to start up for the season.

“It’s disgusting. I’m disappointed. I’m embarrassed. A team that’s 0-8 comes in here and beats us? Beats us on our home field, that’s 0-8, the Jaguars? Come on. Talking about first place? Talking about first place? We just got whooped by the Jaguars. We ain’t talking first place no more. It’s out the window. We’ve got to come back and play the Colts. I don’t know how everybody’s gonna handle it. I mean, we lost to the Jaguars.” - Titans tight end Delanie Walker

Now there's someone who recognizes the embarrassment of losing to a crappy team. I like him!

“I don't think we were distracted at all. We clawed, we scratched, we did everything we could to win the game.” - Dolphins center Mike Pouncey after losing to the 0-8 Buccaneers

And here's someone who doesn't recognize said embarrassment. No surprise there, since he doesn't get he could be in a boatload of trouble thanks to his homey Aaron Hernandez.

“I asked Ben, ‘How's your body?' And he just said he was OK but that we have to do better,” Kelvin Beachum recalled. “He holds us accountable, but he doesn't cuss us out, and he never gets discouraged. Never. There's frustration, but he just wants to keep going.” - Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum

See, that's how a leader operates, Brady and Manning I'm looking in your directions. But considering how poor the offensive line protects Ben, I'd excuse a few cussing outs.

“I’ve always said that I want to be a Steeler for life. I love it here. I’m happy here. I don’t want to go anywhere. No one in my family, our camp, agents, no one has ever said anything about that. To me, it's about giving everything I have to this organization and this fan base. That's what I'm going to do. I'm not quitting on anything, this season, this team or these fans. I'm going to give everything I have. This is home.” - Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger denying rumors of a rift between him and the team

Apparently, the Steelers season wasn't crappy enough without this nonsense thrown in.

“This team loves playing for Gus.” - Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew on head coach Gus Bradley

Hey, that's a start. Now maybe a few winds, a few better players, and who knows what might happen next year.

“My actions were coming from a place of love.” - Dolphins suspended guard Richie Incognito on his relationship with Jonathan Martin

I guess Nazareth was right, Love Hurts.

“The Miami Dolphins locker room probably consists of 75 to 80 percent blacks. If you allow Richie Incognito to walk around in an open locker room and to use a racial epithet that most black Americans, all black Americans, know the … hate and the vitriol that comes with that word, you are encouraging him to do that. I read, and I don’t know, this is alleged, that some black players said Richie Incognito was an honorary black. There is no such thing. This tells me everything I need to know about the Miami Dolphins’ locker room. Maybe it’s me. Just ask your parents. Ask your grandparents. The mountain that they climbed so a black person in America could have respect, could have dignity, and you allow this in an open locker room to take place is unacceptable. I’m so disappointed … Because if you’re black, you know what that word means.” - CBS analyst Shannon Sharpe on The NFL Today

Finally! I kept waiting for someone to say this, and I'm so happy someone finally did. That word is so hateful and disrespectful that it boggles my mind that anyone uses it. Consider me a HUGE Shannon Sharpe fan, despite his Ravens playing career.

"One [text] from Martin to Incognito, sent last week after Martin bolted from the team, went this way: 'It’s insane bro but just know I don’t blame you guys at all. It’s just the culture around football and the locker room got to me a little.' This, a source who knows Martin told me, was a continuation of how Martin continued to respond to a man he felt was his tormenter. He didn’t want to upset Incognito, and sending the it’s-not-your-fault text would avoid making the leader of his position group angry. And I’d bet that’s how Martin will explain the string of friendly texts and exchanges when he’s interviewed by league investigator Ted Wells Wednesday." - The MMQB's Peter King

While watching and reading the Incognito interview, I kept thinking Martin's texts sound like those of a man who's trying to placate a person who he knows can snap into an irrational rage at the drop of a hat. King deduced the same.

Idiot of the Week

This week, we crown Fox Sports resident NFL insider, work out maven and pretend journalist Jay Glazer as idiot.

Glazer grabbed a great opportunity and became the first person to interview suspended Dolphins guard Richie Incognito. While this seems like a coup, most likely this opportunity resulted from Glazer's personal relationship with Incognito. That could have been a conflict of interest, but Glazer does reveal it for transparency at the beginning of the interview. So It's hopeful that Glazer will get some real answers.

Instead, Glazer conducts a sham of an interview with softball questions. Sadly, it becomes obvious that due to Glazer's close relationship with many NFL players, he does not want those relationships, or his access, damaged in any way. So he sacrificed any journalistic credibility he had left, which couldn't be much after those Subway commercials, and lobbed easy ones to Incognito.

It appeared rather quickly to me that being buddy buddy with NFL players and giving Incognito a forum with which to rehab his image and audition for future employers, ranks higher in importance than the truth, stopping the trend of enabling bullies, setting a good example for the youth of society in how to deal with bullies, or even the integrity for his own job. And for that, Jay Glazer you are an idiot.

A runner up award goes to Ravens defensive back James Ihedigbo, who instead of knocking down Andy Dalton's hail mary pass, kept it in play and allowed A.J. Green to catch the game tying touchdown as time expired. Come on Ihedigbo, even junior high players know to knock down the pass!

On Tap This Week

Yup, it was one of those weeks. I had a feeling last week was going to be one of those upside down weeks, but I ignored that nagging feeling. Man I need to learn to trust my gut more often.

Last week: 7-6

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 96-52

That's ok, just about everyone else fell into the same trap. It happens.

Sitting at home, debating how they can dupe Jerry Jones: Dallas, St. Louis

Sunday

Atlanta (2-7) at Tampa Bay (1-8)

Luckily for Tampa Bay, they met Miami at just the time. Atlanta is pretty sad this season, but not this sad.

Falcons over Buccaneers

New York Jets (4-5) at Buffalo (3-7)

Rex Ryan grabbed Ed Reed off the scrap heap and signed him to the team. I don't think Reed will be the difference maker this week, but I bet he thinks he will be.

Jets over Bills

Detroit (6-3) at Pittsburgh (3-6)

Detroit has not won in Pittsburgh since 1955, and if ever there was a year to do it, it would be this year. I'm hoping for a good result, but I'm terrified Megatron is going to do frightening things to the Pittsburgh secondary.

Steelers over Lions

Washington (3-6) at Philadelphia (5-5)

Ok, I'll get on board with Nick Foles. Watch, he'll lay a huge egg at home.

Eagles over Snyders

Baltimore (4-5) at Chicago (5-4)

The title defense continues poorly.

Bears over Ravens

Arizona (5-4) at Jacksonville (1-8)

Look out Arizona, the Jags are on a hot streak!

Cardinals over Jaguars

Oakland (3-6) at Houston (2-7)

The mighty Houston slide stops today. I guarantee it, or at least feel confident in it.

Texans over Raiders

Cleveland (4-5) at Cincinnati (6-4)

Yeah, I'm not getting on the Cleveland bandwagon, even though I like the Bungles even less right now.

Bungles over Browns

San Diego (4-5) at Miami (4-5)

I think Miami is about to turn into a hot mess. And I like it.

Chargers over Dolphins

Green Bay (5-4) at New York Giants (3-6)

I hate the Green Bay quarterback situation right now. I like the Giants everything else even less.

Packers over Giants

Minnesota (2-7) at Seattle (9-1)

You think they'll dump Frazier after this game or next week.

Seahawks over Vikings

San Francisco (6-3) at New Orleans (7-2)

The only thing that kept last week's game close is Carolina's offense is not terribly dynamic. New Orleans does not have that hindrance.

Saints over 49ers

Kansas City (9-0) at Denver (8-1)

Here we go, the big game of the week. I'd like to see Kansas City win, since they are getting zero respect despite being undefeated. But with Dwayne Bowe arrested for drugs, yet still suiting up to play, that's what is called a major distraction. And we all know how that always hinders a winning performance.

Broncos over Chiefs

Monday

New England (7-2) at Carolina (6-3)

I do like this new Carolina team. And that was a tremendous performance last week. But let's see how they fare against a competent quarterback who has more than one trick.

Patriots over Panthers