How the Patriots could extend their reign and doom the NFL

The New England Patriots are up to something and it's not good.

New England Head Coach Bill Belichick and their front office are notorious for being steps ahead of the rest of the league during their nearly two-decade reign of dominance of the NFL. Belichick became the head coach in 2000, coinciding with quarterback Tom Brady being selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft that same year. Since, the Patriots have won eight conference titles, five Super Bowls and have a current streak of seven consecutive AFC Conference title games. Their dominance of the AFC East has spanned almost the entirety of the new millennium (15 out of a possible 18 division titles). 'The Patriot Way' has become a recognized philosophy in the league that refers to the thinking that it's better to get rid of a player a year too early than a year too late. In doing so, older veterans who have lost a step but still productive are cycled out of the system in favor of younger, hungrier albeit less experienced talent. As a result the level of play stays consistent and it's also more cap-friendly than keeping a roster full of high-priced talent.

That being said, on the surface it looks as if the Patriots' run of dominance is coming to a close. They have lost many impact players on both sides of the ball. In this offseason alone, wide receiver Danny Amendola has bolted for Miami, Super Bowl hero cornerback Malcolm Butler and leading rusher Dion Lewis are now members of the Tennessee Titans. Both offensive tackle that protected Brady in the Super Bowl are gone. Nate Solder is a New York Giant and Cameron Fleming is a Dallas Cowboy. That's a lot of key free agent defections for a team with a championship pedigree that borders on mythical. From the outside, it looks like the empire is crumbling piece-by-piece. Then a funny thing happened on the way to bury the kings.

Not funny ha ha, funny uh-oh...

In what's arguably their most head-scratching move, New England traded their young speed-burning wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams. In the deal, the Patriots send Cooks and their 2018 4th-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for the Rams' first round pick (23rd) and LA's 6th-round pick. Just like that, New England divests themselves of two key receiving threats in their 2017 Super Bowl run in Amendola and Cooks. In the 24-year old Cooks, they lose the player with the capability of taking the top off any defense and has averaged over one thousand yards, seven touchdowns  and 75 receptions in each of the last three seasons. Couple all the defections with the rumors of a fracture in the front office between owner Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowskis' ongoimg absence at the start of voluntary workouts; the end looks nearer than ever. One thing we've learned however is the Patriots always seem to be a step ahead of the rest of the league. What ARE they up to this time?

Here are three doomsday scenarios that could unfold on draft day that could make us all want to stop watching NFL for good:

1. The Patriots trade up to the top of the draft and steal one of the 'big four' quarterbacks consisting of Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold. The have-nots of the NFL are jockeying for position at the top of the NFL Draft next Thursday in order to choose the man who will (hopefully) lead their franchises into the future. Armed with not one but two first-round picks, the Patriots could package them both and possibly offer up a third first-round pick in 2019 to give a team that may be on the fence about drafting a quarterback (such as the New York Giants who pick second) to bow out of the top ten and accumulate more talent. Conversely, the Giants could repackage the two firsts to move back up the draft, possible into the top 10-15 spots in the draft. Belichick and the New England front office has shown excellent judgement when it comes to quarterbacks as evidenced by the gritty, impressive performances of Jimmy Garopolo and Jacoby Brissette last season as they were both unexpectedly jettisoned from the Patriots in 2017. Scoring one of the big four quarterbacks could bridge the gap created when Brady calls it a career with little dropoff and keep them at the top of the AFC for the forseeable future.

2. The Patriots include Gronkowski in a package to trade up into the top five and keep a first rounder. Gronkowski has passed the expiration date of the 'Patriot Way' credo and the only reason Gronkowski is still a Patriot today is because of Brady. The numerous back, knee, hip injuries, mounting concussions and missed games should show the writing on the wall. Gronk hasn't committed to returning for the new season. In my opinion, he knows if he doesn't leave on his own he will be shown the door. When he is on the field he is the best tight end in the game and he will be a sexy trade chip. Add Gronk, the Pats' 2018 first rounder (23rd pick) and two second-round picks to the aforementioned Giants and it could be enough to wrest the second pick away from the New Yorkers. In doing so, they still salvage their original 31st selection.

Thirdly, and most terrifying of all...

3. The Patriots give both first-round picks in a package to trade for Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants have been anything but consistent in their intentions for their diva wide receiver.  Beckham Jr. obviously wants a new contract after a stellar first four years as a professional. Despite missing most of last season with an ACL injury, Beckham Jr. has established himself as a superstar. His on and off-field antics have worn thin on the front office to the point where what should have been a done deal yesterday still isn't done and there is talk among the NFL insiders that the Giants are fielding phone calls for Beckham Jr. If the Patriots would package their first-round picks it would give the Giants three first round picks and save them the debate over whether to pay Beckham Jr. a huge contract extension. Moreover, they max out what they can get now instead of risk Beckham Jr. holding a grudge and leaving the team for nothing in return. The Patriots win because they get arguably the best wide receiver in the league, in his prime, to complete an unholy trinity of Brady, Gronk and Beckham Jr. In doing so, the Patriots could extend their stranglehold on the AFC as top dogs and Super Bowl runs for years to come.

Or...

New England could offer a Gronkowski-for-Beckham exchange and include one first-round pick this year, a first-round pick next year and an additional second or third-round selection. Both teams exchange their problem children and get the best player at their positions in return. Both offenses get a major upgrade, trade their prodigies out of their conference and still have plenty of draft capital to work with. Sound far fetched? Maybe so, but New England didn't get to where they are today by thinking inside the box. The Patriots are up to something and we should all be concerned...

What do you think? No chance or could it happen? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The Greg One

@LordoftheGregs
#HotTakeMessenger
#NFLDraft2018

Should San Diego become the new Castaway Island?

Chargers fans and NFL fans in general have their eyes focused on March 10, the day when free agency begins. For once, the Chargers have an abundance of spending cash and gaping holes that need to be filled on offense and defense. We've become used to and applauded GM Tom Telesco for doing a lot with very little financially. Its is going to be very interesting to see what he does with a pocket full of Benjamins instead of a pocket full of pennies.

Still, with all the needs to be addressed, the need to save money while still getting great value will always be a priority. In this column i'm going to give you three intriguing options that may very well achieve those goals. One has been discussed increasingly as days go by and two have been off the radar this past season. All three have one thing in common, troubled pasts.

1. Justin Blackmon WR, Jacksonville.

 If you saw my mock draft last year, you noticed I had the Chargers trading a 4th round draft pick for Blackmons' rights. For those of you who've forgotten, Blackmon is a 6'1, 210 pound freak of nature out of Oklahoma State. A back-to-back winner in 2010 and 2011 of the Biletnikoff Award heralding college football's best wideout, Blackmon was the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Blackmon ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 at the 2012 combine and his speed is only enhanced by exceptional leaping ability and physical, aggressive nature when going up for the ball. All those things made Blackmon a bigger target than he is stature-wise.

In his rookie season, he burst on the scene catching 64 balls for 865 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Blackmon's downfall has come off the field in the form of substance abuse. His second season was marred by suspensions from arrests for DUI and driving under the influence of marijuana. Blackmon only played four games in the 2013 season and has not played a game since.

Jacksonville is hoping to know Blackmon's status before the draft. He has to apply for reinstatement after his year-long suspension in the 2014-15 season and it looks like he has worn out his welcome. A change of scenery in a locker room filled with veteran leaders could be just what the doctor ordered. Blackmon turned 25 at the beginning of January. A season away has hopefully rekindled his desire to play and given him time to get his personal life in order.

Focused and reinvigorated, he would step in as a legitimate number one or two wide receiver. An incentive-laden two year contract would  give the Chargers a low-risk, high reward potential player at a thinning position. A mid to late round draft pick would still be sufficient to get him out of the Sunshine State.

2. Daryl Washington, ILB Arizona.

 Living in Phoenix, I have seen a lot of Washington and listened to his coaches and teammates sing his praises since he was drafted in 2010. Like Blackmon, the 28-year old Washington seems to have run out of lives in Arizona.

Let's count the offenses...

Washington was suspended for the entire 2014 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, his second such offense. The first caused a four game suspension in 2013. In addition, he violated the league's personal conduct policy stemming from an aggravated assault conviction of his ex-girlfriend. After pleading guilty, he received one year supervised probation.

On the field, Washington was an exceptional and a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball. He was one of the team captains, tasked with making sure the rest of the defense was in the right place and calling plays on defense. Despite missing four games in 2013 he was still third on the team with 81 tackles (59 solo), 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012 after amassing 134 tackles (107 solo), 9 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one interception.

Another big indicator he's played his last game in a Cardinals uniform, during the 2013 offseason Cardinals GM Steve Keim said: "It's completely unacceptable that Daryl has once again put us in this position." A player like Washington who is on the right side of 30, loaded with potential and spared a year of wear and tear on his body will come with a higher price tag but to get that kind of production from an inside linebacker helps everywhere else on defense. In four seasons he only missed one game aside from the games he missed due to suspension and durability is definitely a trait that has been seriously lacking in San Diego.

3. Adrian Peterson RB, Minnesota. 

This has been a name that has been popping up recently in connection with the Chargers. We all watched as the child abuse scandal unfolded before us last season. Peterson missed all but the first game of the season and after being removed from the Commissioners' exempt list was suspended the final six games of the season without pay. He was bought to trial for disciplining his 4-year old son with a switch, leaving behind lashes that were used for evidence.

There hasn't exactly been a groundswell of support for Peterson among the front office in Minnesota. The team seems to be looking to rebuild without him, leaning on the talents of 2014 first round draft pick, QB Teddy Bridgewater. After compiling a respectable 7-9 2014 campaign without AP, Minnesota seems to be headed in the right direction.

As the league's highest paid running back, Peterson is scheduled to make 12.75 million this season and is still under contract for the next three years. He will also count 15.4 million against the Vikings salary cap which is another reason they look to be ready to cut ties with their star player.

After entering a no contest plea to misdemeanor reckless assault, Peterson received two years probation, 4000 in fines and 80 hours community service. He will be able to apply for reinstatement on April 15.

By adding Peterson, the Chargers would instantly become a Super Bowl favorite in the AFC. His signing would be akin to Peyton Manning coming to Denver. With a franchise quarterback leading what was the 10th ranked passing attack in the league last season already in place, a dominant feature back would put the Chargers over the top.

The last of the dominant every down running backs, Peterson is the anti-Mathews. In seven full seasons he only missed 8 games, half of those came from missing the final four games of the season after tearing his ACL in 2011. He then returned and ran for an astonishing 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to winning the NFL MVP award in 2012. A punishing runner, he has the ability to catch out of the backfield, elude and break tackles and possesses phenomenal breakaway speed.

Peterson will be 30 by the time the season starts but he has essentially had a full season off to heal his body. We've seen what he can do coming back from a devastating injury in record time, what will he be able to do returning completely fresh and determined to reestablish himself as the top back in the league? Defenses will have to jam the box with an extra defender (which still has minimal effect against AP) to contain him and that will leave the Chargers receivers and tight ends in favorable one-on-one matchups. A three year contract for Peterson will give Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd, Eric Weddle and the longtime Chargers their greatest shot at a deserved Super Bowl championship since the Tomlinson era.

Chemistry is very important in a locker room. The question now is will Telesco give these three players serious consideration if and when they become available? We know the GM is big on high character, team-oriented players and he leans toward younger, high potential, multi-dimensional players. Was that because that's truly his philosophy or because of the pennies in his pocket, that was the road he was forced to travel?

Keep in mind Telesco did offer a contract last offseason to veteran wide receiver Steve Smith (who's had his fair share of on and off the field incidents) last year and would have got him if Baltimore didn't have the team that exiled him, Carolina, on their schedule. The revenge factor was too great for Smith to pass up and he went on to a great season in Baltimore.

These players have endangered themselves and people around them through drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence and that should not be taken lightly. Their past transgressions should serve as a cautionary tale to the rest of us. They have had a year or longer to get their lives back in order and (hopefully) come back to the game ready to perform and endear themselves to their new teammates, coaches and fan base. A change of scenery, a chance to play on a playoff-caliber team in a low media intensity city like San Diego and opportunity to start rebuilding their image will provide plenty of motivation and that will only benefit the Chargers. These players are game changers and that is what the bolts sorely need.

Morality is a slippery slope. These players have (or are soon to be) castoff from their teams because their behavior has become too big a distraction to keep them around. Who hasn't made mistakes and been motivated to come through it better than you were before? We're known as the land of opportunity. People come here from around the globe searching for a new start. In the end, we're not considering these players to be the heads of our household, we're considering these players to be standout components that will get us what we crave as Chargers fans: A Super Bowl championship.

My name is The Greg One, and I approve these players.

 

Bolt Up!!

 

#TelescoMagic

Dear NFL: Leave Marshawn Alone

During the two weeks leading to the Super Bowl here in Phoenix the focus of all things statewide was the Super Bowl. Media, celebrities and athletes overran the capital city and a visitors had no shortage of NFL-related spectacles to enjoy no matter wherever in the valley they were.

One of the biggest events of the week happened Tuesday as media day took place at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns. The floor of the arena was reminiscent of an NCAA National Championship where the student sections storm the court and swallows the team amidst the celebration. The floor was a mass of credential wearing humanity pushing and shoving to get close enough to get their recorders in a player's face.

At media day, the throngs gather around the podiums of the biggest named stars hoping to get good sound bytes. Similar to Mardi Gras, some dress in ridiculous costume in order to catch the attention of a star and make themselves known, however ignominiously.

Why then, is anyone gathered around the podium of Marshawn Lynch?

We get the fact that he is the arguably, the biggest name on the Seahawks marquee. Lynch and Russell Wilson are 1 and 1A, in either order. Marshawn was fourth in the league in rushing, only 57 yards shy of making it to #2. There's no question he is the most punishing runner in the league. A great quote from Lynch could move a lot of newspapers or at least get a lot of clicks on your website. There's just one problem.

Marshawn Lynch is not interested in talking to the media. At all. Not even a little bit.

We remember last season when Deion Sanders found Lynch lurking behind a backdrop in the corner of the venue. Even the charismatic, widely respected Primetime wasn't able to get much response from the enigmatic Lynch. He did get the catchphrase of the season though.

...I'm just 'bout that action, Boss.

It's been no secret for many season now that sticking a microphone in Lynch's face is pointless. He rarely talks to the beat writers for his own team, what makes the league think he's going to talk to the rest of the media circus?

Lynch has accumulated over 100,000 in fines this season for refusing to speak to the press. He has added more to the fine toteboard for taunting as a result of crotch grabbing as he scored touchdowns. It's clear to the rest of us, Lynch says all he wants ON the field, not off of it.

NFL players are mandated to speak to the media in their contracts. They signed it knowing that fact. Marshawn seems completely comfortable taking the fines and being left alone. The fines are likely tax-deductible anyway.

At Media Day Tuesday, Lynch sat at his podium and repeated the same phrase 29 times.

I'm just here so I don't get fined...

Five minutes later he was gone. Even though they knew he wouldn't say anything different, his podium was surrounded by media. On the second day of their mandated three days of media sessions, Lynch carried the theme over today too with a new line...

You know why I'm here....

This doesn't translate to a t-shirt very well, does it? No merchandising opportunities here. Still, he was the object of everyone's attention when all he wanted was to be left alone. Five minutes later he was gone.

On day three he did speak more than one sentence. He used his five minutes to rant on why the assembled throng continues to come to him when they know he has nothing to say to them. Great point.

These Lynch/media confrontations are painful to watch.  It's akin to the school nerd trying to get a date with the homecoming queen. He walks up to try to utter something resembling a greeting and in the midst of his stammering she stares at him like he is growing three heads. It's as uncomfortable as a separated couple that still lives together. It's like trying to hold an intelligent conversation with a Raiders fan. Time to face it media...

He's just not that into you.

Why go someplace where you're not wanted? In the interest of solving the problem i've posed, I offer the media and the league these solutions.

1. Leave Marshawn alone. Give him time to miss you. Perhaps if you play hard to get he'll actually come to you.

2. Restructure his contract. Marshawn is a free agent now and while the Seahawks are (allegedly) looking to extend him for another couple years, now is the time to solve this problem. Just as easily as the 'must speak to media' obligation is included in his contract, it can also be omitted in negotiations. Lynch will be happy to stay and the media knows he is a virtual 'no fly zone' in the locker room.

3. Fine him at the beginning of the year. If the rule can't be taken out of the contract, fine Lynch the equivalent of whatever it will cost in fines to absolve him of speaking to the media for the entirety of the season. The NFL will donate half to a charity of their choice, Lynch chooses the charity of his choice for the other half. This will result in good PR in the form of helping the disadvantaged and will show the league is sympathetic to its players to the casual fan even though we diehard fans knows its the farthest thing from the truth.

This way, everyone can move on and do more productive things with their time. The media can move on to interviewing people who will actually talk. Lynch can hide out in the locker room scarfing Skittles. The league can focus on the much bigger matters at hand than an athlete who doesn't want a close up for a change instead of bullying him to say nothing for five minutes.

 

 

Super Bowl 49 Analysis And Prediction

Here in sunny Phoenix, you can't have consecutive conversations on any subject without the Super Bowl being mentioned. For good reason, Phoenix is the center of the universe this week and the game pitting the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks has all the makings of an epic encounter.

Then again, we thought the same thing about last season's Super Bowl...

On the first snap of last season's big game, the ball was sailed over Peyton Manning's head and it was all downhill from there as the almighty Denver Broncos were boatraced by the Seahawks 43-8.

Are we doomed for a repeat of last season?

Let's check the similarities. The Seahawks are the power of the NFC, featuring (arguably) the best secondary in the game and a stout defense that keeps opponents off the scoreboard while the offense gets ahead early and forces the opposition to play out of their comfort zone. The Patriots were the top team in the AFC or perhaps considered 1 and 1A most of the season when you include Denver in the mix. Both teams finished with identical 12-4 records and first round byes in the playoffs. In the end the Patriots had the edge due to a 43-21 win over the Broncos. The fact that the Patriots are the AFC representative in the Super Bowl erases all remaining doubt.

The Patriots also feature a deep and talented secondary and the best gameplanning staff in the league in Bill Belichick and crew. The Patriots offense, like Seattle, is not explosive by definition but they have bursts of scoring that is usually enough to put teams away.

Both teams come armed with a playmaking quarterback and one star complimentary player. Seattle has Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch. New England has Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Aside from those tag teams, neither offense has a player that strikes fear into the opposition. The question is which tandem will be held in check the best. Both teams have slow, plodding offenses with short rhythmic passing attacks. Neither team have a propensity to fire the ball deep down the field.

The differences are Seattle has a more creative offensive attack with Wilson running the read option. Wilson's ability to extend plays with his legs will create problems for the Patriots. New England has faced one running quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) and no read option teams all season. The Patriots, boring style and all, do average 30 points per game to Seattle's 24. All their offensive shortcomings are overshadowed by the ability of Brady to make the plays needed to win. Brady is in the argument of best quarterbacks of all time. New England is playing to cement their legacy while Seattle is hoping to create a legacy reminiscent of what the Patriots are doing now. Back to back Super Bowl wins over two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game will go a long way to doing so.

In the end, it boils down to can Seattle disrupt Tom Brady enough to make him average. He's great when he has time to throw and has established a rhythm. When the pass rush forces him to slip and slide in the pocket he becomes average and prone to making mistakes. Seattle's defense found its stride at the right time coming down the back stretch of the season as they reeled off six straight wins, allowing six points per game to the opposition. Only one team in that stretch scored more than 7 points.

For New England, the big question is can they stop Marshawn Lynch. Lynch is the most punishing runner in the league and over the course of a game defenders are less and less willing to tackle him head on. The Patriots have given up big rushing games to lesser backs this season. Moreno (132), Knile Davis (107), Chris Ivory (107), Matt Forte (114), Eddie Lacy (98) and Justin Forsett (129) in the Divisional Playoff against Baltimore. Stopping Lynch makes the read option and play action ineffective which is the Seahawks bread and butter.

Thankfully, this game looks dead even which means we won't be looking for something more interesting to do before halftime as was the case last year. The Seahawks will shackle Gronkowski for most of the game. He'll find an opening for one short touchdown catch. Seattle strong safety Kam Chancellor will be the unsung hero of the game. The heartbeat of Seattle's defense, force multiple incompletions on balls headed to Gronk and without his safety net Brady will falter.

The stingy Seahawks D will force field goals instead of allowing touchdowns in the red zone. Brady will throw for a pedestrian 250 yards and two touchdowns but the pass most talked about will be of the second half pick six he threw to Earl Thomas that broke the game open. One half of the Wilson/Lynch tag team will win the MVP and the 'Hawks will succeed in going back-to-back by a score of 30-23.

Are These The Last Days of 24 in San Diego?

Twenty three carries. That's how many rushing attempts it took Ryan Mathews to find his way back to his familiar spot on the sidelines. Mathews was injured in the Chargers week two home win against Seattle. With only Donald Brown and Branden Oliver to carry the load most of the season, the Chargers fell one game short of the playoffs. This is a pattern that is all too familiar when it comes to Ryan Mathews and it is time for a change for the betterment of the team.

Loyal BoltBlitz followers who read my columns know I am not a fan of 24. The Chargers are the one team I live and die for in all of sports and like all of you, I support my team to the fullest. Before my team loyalty is called into question, I'm sure there are players on our beloved team we have all disliked and did a happy dance when they were shown the door. Jared Gaither anyone? Larry English? Robert Meachem? Derek Cox? Those guys probably picked up their game checks with ski masks on because what they were doing is akin to stealing money from the team. We can always wish for the weak links to be replaced for more talented players and maintain our superfan status. In that line of thought, I paraphrase a line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar:

I come not to praise 24, but to bury him.

Last season was an aberration and we all know it. For the first time in his four years as a Charger, Mathews played every game in a sixteen game season.  For essentially the entirety of his Chargers tenure Mathews has been fragile, unable to stay on the field and be productive. There has also been questions about his toughness and he's had issues holding on to the ball his entire pro career. The biggest issue is this wasn't just a streak of bad luck. Even in college at Fresno State, Mathews had a history of injury issues. The previous regime traded up sixteen spots in the first round of the 2010 draft to get him based on one outstanding season in 2009 when he led the nation in  rushing.

As Chargers fans, we've been spoiled. Mathews was brought in as the heir apparent to the legend known as LT, Ladainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson, who only missed ONE game in his first eight years as a Charger and dominated the league as it's best running back. Big shoes to fill. Before LT, the Chargers featured durable bruisers such as Natrone Means and Marion Butts in the 90's. Mathews was tapped to be next in the Chargers long line of outstanding feature backs. He fumbled that too.

Mathews came into this season on a high after finishing seventh in the league in rushing. This is also Mathews contract year. Time to face facts, there is no future with Mathews. Maybe his body can't stand the pounding. Maybe he trains wrong or not enough. Whatever it is he can't be depended on and the good news is Telesco now knows this. Mathews has been a quiet, humble man and is a valued member of the San Diego community. It's on the field where he comes up short.

Mathews missed seven games following the Seattle win and returned to face the Raiders at home after the bye week. Four games and 51 carries later, Mathews was done for the season. He looked good in his return but it was a short-lived return and that's the problem. 

San Diego simply can't rely on Mathews to be there in the clutch.  Mathews only played in played six games this season and a strong, successful rushing attack can't be attained when the number one running back can't stay on the field. 

In the end, I believe Telesco will let Mathews walk and the Chargers will bring in a big name back in free agency or the draft. Now that Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher, has declared for the 2015 NFL Draft he's automatically the best running back on the board. This could be great for the Chargers since that pushes Todd Gurley and T.J. Yeldon down the draft board into the late first round if not the second altogether.

Am I saying the Chargers should draft a running back in the first or second round?

Yes.

The facts are these. For the first time in a decade, the Chargers have a ton of cash to spend in free agency. The most important areas that need to be addressed are the offensive and defensive lines and the secondary. If Telesco does as expected and uses that 25-30 million to address those needs then that does leave him the ability to draft a potentially franchise caliber running back like Gordon, Gurley or Yeldon. Drafting  a running back in the first couple rounds does not set a franchise back the way missing on a franchise quarterback does.  With its depth of talent at the running back position this draft would be one to give it a shot. Who wouldn't love to see Gordon or Gurley in lightning bolts next year providing thunder to Woodhead and Oliver's lightning?

Exactly.

Mathews is the last remaining item on the long list of mistakes left in Telesco's lap from the old regime. It is time to let Mathews go somewhere else and let a different fan base agonize over his fumbles and litany of injuries. Add a sprained MCL to all the ankle sprains, calf, hamstring and quad injuries that's kept him a mainstay in the trainer's room over the years. Lest we forget the broken collarbones. Aside from maybe...stuntmen, who breaks both collarbones in their lifetime, much less each one in a six month span? Yes, I think Bolt Nation has had enough seasons of 24. This series needs to be cancelled. Now.

 

What do you think? Do you want to see Mathews back in bolts next year?

 

Bolt Up

 

The Greg One

 

#TelescoMagic

The Peanut Gallery mixes sports and politics!!

Its the most wonderful time of the year! No, not christmas, even better. The NFL regular season is underway and The Greg One has lots of thoughts on the subject. Starting locally, Matt Leinart was a waste of space and the Cardinals brass were right in letting him go. Leinart had been in the system four years, had the playbook in hand four years, sat at the learning tree of Kurt Warner for three years and when he finally had the chance to take over the team he flamed like USC did in the 2006 National Championship. If you lose a quarterback competition to Derek Anderson you don't deserve to play! Now Leinart will be the third string quarterback in Houston. He won't even have to put on a uniform. You may as well stand him next to the Gatorade so he can have something to do. Don't worry Matt, the Raiders will come calling soon enough. The Raiders are where careers go to die. Ask Warren Sapp. Ask Jerry Rice. Ask Randy Moss. Ask Darren McFadden. Considering your career died after you left USC, you'll fit right in.

So the Cardinals made the right choice. The bad news is their new stating quarterback is Derek Anderson. Derek Anderson couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. He did all he could to give the game to the Rams and almost succeeded. Anybody who can routinely overthrow Larry Fitzgerald deserves special recognition because that is hard to do. The Cardinals are doomed to finish 8-8 this season and the only reason it won't be worse is because Anderson will lose his starting spot to Max Hall sometime this season.

And now ladies and gentlemen, let's have a moment of silence for Jamarcus Russell. The Raiders weakened on their Committment to Excrement and let Russell go. We, the Charger superfans, are sad to see Jamarcus go. He gave (fumbles) with both hands. He threw more picks than a NBA guard. He replaced the Chargers own Ryan Leaf as the biggest disgrace in NFL history. We salute you Jamarcus Russell, a man dumb enough to go down for possession of a codeine cocktail called 'Purple Drank'. (You know you're on the C list when you can't even score real drugs!) You're the only man out there who could make Ricky Williams look like Jim Brown in comparison. You will be missed. Rust in peace.

Its five p.m. on September 16th and the Raiders are still our bitches...

The Greg One has already placed a hex on the Minnesota Vikings. For those of you who missed it, when Ladainian Tomlinson went on his free agent tour his first stop was Minnesota. He went on ESPN and voiced his desire to play in the same backfield with Brett Favre. Favre wouldn't give LT confirmation he would come back. HELLEN KELLER COULD SEE HE WAS COMING BACK!! As a result, LT became a Jet. He deserves a ring and his best shot outside San Diego would have been the Vikings. Hence the hex. The Vikings will not win a Super Bowl while Brett Favre is the quarterback. So let it be said, so let it be done.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, I did correctly put the New Orleans Saints into the Super Bowl in week three last season. Of course I had them losing to the Chargers in the big game and it should have happened but it didn't. Despite that, i'm going to go back-to-back with the same prediction this year. Chargers will face the Saints in Dallas in February and the Chargers will win 30-24.

More random observations: The Jets and Cowboys are overrated. No way the Cowboys are going to host the Super Bowl. The Jets don't have a quarterback good enough to get them there. The Jets were 9-7 and wouldn't have even made the playoffs had the Colts not decided to gift wrap a game for them last season. The Cowboys are proverbial head cases and they will fail in the playoffs as they always do. Aaron Rodgers is so overrated its not funny. I will take Philip Rivers every day and twice on sunday. Rodgers may be a top five quarterback but he shouldn't be rated ahead of Rivers at this point.

While we're on the subject of San Diego, lets make it a championship double shot. The Greg One says Padres will beat the Rays in the least watched World Series in history. Baseball has issues. The season needs to be cut in half, its no fun to watch on tv, they won't use replay or reverse calls they know are wrong, the players are still juicing and someone needs to take Pete Rose behind the barn and shoot him. Seriously.

Much Peanut Gallery love to Chael Sonnen for his five round beatdown of Anderson Silva. Silva needed someone to beat the wuss out of him. Mission accomplished. Next time don't let him control your wrists!! All hail the future welterweight champion, Chael will win the rematch! Brock Lesnar has replaced Mike Tyson as the true baddest man on the planet after choking out Shane 'One Round' Carwin. I guess there is something to the former WWE susperstar invasion after all...

One last non-sports related rant to grow on. The Greg One is tired of every other commercial on tv or radio beginning with 'In these economic times...' Yes, unemployment is up, the economy sucks and people are suffering. I was one of those masses practically all summer. However, I come with solutions. Three solutions that could turn the economy right side up almost overnight.

1) Legalize Marijuana. A large segment of the population has done it at some point and a large segment of that segment still does it recreationally. Why not make it legal and charge taxes on it? There would be no shortage of demand for it. Sell it out of pharmacies and use a third to further medical research for everything from Alzheimer's to Paranoid schizophrenia. Give another third to the states to cure their deficits and the remaining third to the government. There are too many recreational users crowding jail cells when serious criminals are getting leniency because of that overcrowding. The Greg One does not put anything in his mouth that has to be set on fire (words to live by....) but for those who do they still should not have to go to jail for having something that comes naturally from the earth.

2) Legalize online gambling. Whats the difference between online gambling and playing the lottery? Playing online saves you a trip to the grocery store. Again, a large majority of americans gamble online. Online poker and sports betting is a billion dollar industry and our government foolishly regards this as an evil pursuit. These are the same politicians who bet their goofy state delicacies for college bowl games. The President fills out the NCAA bracket on television! Its all gambling no matter how 'good natured' it is. All the money from this industry is holed up in offshore and international companies unaffected by our legislation. Many of us will make a sports bet sometime this year whether on the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA playoffs or NCAA tournament to name a few. We do it online, we do it with bookies, we participate in pay fantasy leagues. Its all gambling and it would serve the economy well to make it legal and move that billion dollar industry stateside.

3) Legalize prostitution. Its the world's oldest profession. Again, there are people in jail for getting it on with a skank in a back alley somewhere. One very low notch above, strippers prostitute themselves, only they get to do it indoors. If we legalized prostitution we could take the hoes off the streets, get them cleaned up, tested and placed in organized brothels. The brothels would be monitored by the state and pimps would become government employees! The hoes get money, food clothing and shelter. The states get money by the fistful. No more dead hooker crimes, no more wasted jail space and you could pay for sex with your Mastercard! How awesome would that be?!? The Bunny Ranch is the only place that has figured it out! Legal brothels would signal the end of sex scandals because it is a state run, government monitored agency.

Why have these ideas gone ignored for so long? I can't be the first to have put these pieces together. Instead, our leaders want to cure the economic crisis by funneling money into big businesses and waiting for the jobs to trickle out. In the meantime businesses are going bankrupt. There are no more Circuit Cities! Hollywood Video is gone! Payday loans are a thing of the past! Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae went over the edge like Thelma and Louise! While we wait for the trickle down from big business why not use the things we will always partake in even in the midst of the biggest economic catastrophe since The Great Depression? There will always be a need to make money without actually working (gambling). There will always be a need for a release from the pressure of a world beating down on you daily (weed) and no matter what the economic climate there can never be enough sex! These are the keys to quick, almost instantaneous economic recovery. There's no need to get righteous and pan these ideas out of some misguided sense of principal. This country's moral compass broke decades ago while the Kennedy's had their way with Marilyn Monroe. The compass disintegrated the moment we were sent searching for WMD's. Time to do the right thing and give the people what they want! Sex, drugs and a full house on the river!

Suggestions for Phoenix Suns 2010 offseason

Welcome to another Phoenix Suns postseason. At this same time last season your friend The Greg One released a checklist of things for the Suns to do in the offseason to be successful this past season. Get rid of Shaq. Check. Sign Nash. Check. Make Gentry the permanent coach. Check. As a result of these and other suggestions the Suns had a better season than anyone expected, advancing to the western conference finals. Here's hoping the Suns follow the new blueprint yours truly is happy to share with the world.
The first thing the Suns have to do is bring in a strong General Manager. Steve Kerr gets a solid C grade for his work in the valley. He pulled the trigger on the deal that brought Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley to town, sending away Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Great deal looking back on it now. He also hired Terry Porter and sent away Shawn Marion to get a decrepit Shaquille O'Neal. Terrible moves on both fronts. Kerr didn't take the lowball offers for Amare Stoudemire offered by a number of teams, choosing to stand his ground and risk losing Amare for nothing in return. That move ensured a wildly successful season but can also be a curse if Amare walks, leaving the Suns holding the bag. The Kerr tenure is a push. A solid 'C'. Similarly, owner Robert Sarver needs to open his checkbook this offseason and get quality talent in or sell majority ownership to someone who will.
The Suns need to talk to Kevin Pritchard, the young gun who just was released by Portland. Pritchard brought in solid character guys and turned Portland from the 'Jailblazers' to one of the up and coming players in the western conference. Talk to Danny Ainge. The ship is sinking in Boston. Rasheed Wallace is retiring, Ray Allen is a free agent, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce aren't getting any younger and now they're starting to no-show in the playoffs. Pierce is also a free agent. Its time to rebuild in Boston and now would be a good time for Ainge to head to greener pastures . Just something to think about, nothing wrong with just sending a phone call out that way.
Should the Suns offer Amare Stoudemire a max contract? In a word, no. The Greg One is a big Amare fan. The problem is that Amare has peaked already. He has only recently got the spring back into his step two years removed from his microfracture knee surgery. His court vision finally cleared in the second half of the season a year after his eye surgery. His body has already started to break down. Stoudemire's next deal will take him into his thirties and even now his desire can be called into question. There's no doubt he carried the Suns in the second half of the season but for a player with such immense athletic gifts, how can he NOT be averaging a double double? Amare averaged 23 points and 8.9 rebounds and one block for the season. Not good enough. When you have to install Robin Lopez for rebounding, that's not a good sign.
If not Amare, then who? The Suns have the money to sign one player to a max contract and with a team that made the conference finals it shouldn't be a hard sell. Before we get to the most legitimate prospects, one suggestion. Make an offer to LeBron. We know his mind is set on Chicago or New York and The Greg One sees him in a Knicks uniform next season. Even so, put someone on a plane and pitch the man already! In Phoenix, LeBron wouldn't have to worry about having a sidekick coming with him, he'd already have the league's best point guard in Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, the deepest bench in the league, an arsenal of three point shooters that will open the lanes wide enough for him to drive a truck through, and a fast break offense that would highlight his high-flying ability more than any other team can. Move Frye to Amare's slot, put Lopez at Center and you have a championship. Case closed. Pitch the man!
Now on to the best candidates to replace Amare:
1. Chris Bosh. Bosh is who Amare should be. He averages 24 points, 10.8 rebounds and one block a game. Bosh is a year younger an inch taller and doesn't have the injury problems. Bosh seems transfixed on Miami but that's why someone needs to shine the light from Phoenix and pitch the man!
2. Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk may be looking to opt out this postseason. Where better than to go than to join his favorite running mate Steve Nash? With Dirk on the floor the Suns could field five players who can all shoot the three with deadly accuracy if Channing Frye is at center. Take a minute to let that thought wash over you. The downside is Dirk is 32 and we don't know how much gas is left in the tank but back alongside Nash, it could be the fountain of youth for him. Dirk has hit the glass ceiling in Dallas and at seven feet tall he would make a nice twin tower next to seven footer Robin Lopez at center.
3. Carlos Boozer. Boozer is a defensive force. He averages 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds per game. He can be had for less than the maximum which should make Robert Sarver happy. Boozer is an intimidator and would look really good backing down Bynum and Gasol.
4. David Lee. Lee is a bright young stud who averages 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He also would not require a max deal.
5. Yao Ming. He gets injured too much but he averages 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and almost two blocks a game. The Suns game speed may be too fast for him but after a season on the injured list, he would be a great reclamation project.
So there you have it, the top five replacements should Amare leave town. If all else fails, sign Paul Pierce for three years. Keep the bench intact by resigning Amundsen and Frye then add one of these pieces and the Suns will make championship runs in the playoffs. If one of the top three choices sign, a banner will finally find its place into the Purple Palace. Three words, pitch the man!

The Peanut Gallery: June Edition

Summer has officially arrived in the valley, bringing triple digit temperatures, a sports void for non-baseball fans and a solutions oriented edition of The Peanut Gallery! One out of three ain't bad, it will get you into the baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball is the only relevant sport to tide us over until August when we can finally enjoy the NFL preseason. The Greg One is, at his most extreme, a passive baseball fan. No sport should require a 182-game regular season. (We will make an exception for women's beach volleyball). Baseball is ancient, behind the times and not very fan friendly. Bud Selig is a moron. Any forward thinking commissioner would look at the ump blunder that cost Armando Galaragga a perfect game as a ghastly offense to the game and corrected it. If history means so much do the right thing and give the kid his place among the other immortals that have thrown perfect games. Instead, Bud does nothing but try to say 'I'm sorry' by giving the kid a Corvette. Woo freakin hoo! The kid could go buy a Corvette with the change that has fallen between his couch cushions. That's reason #162 why baseball sucks. We all know The Greg One is a dedicated Chargers fanatic so by extension the Padres get a casual eye in their direction as well. What do you know, the Padres are taking a cue from the Chargers and spanking their division! Space is too valuable in this column to waste on baseball so we'll pick the Padres winning the World Series by defeating the Phillies in the NLCS and taking out the Tampa Bay Rays in the lowest rated World Series ever.
The NBA season is over, the draft is over and Lebron-a-Palooza is about to begin. Lebron will leave Cleveland and play in New York. Hope it was good for you Cleveland, your moment in the sun is over and your team will go back to the cellar and the lottery next season. Personally, The Greg One wants Lebron to go to the Clippers. They have a good young nucleus, an all-star point guard and the delayed freshman debut of Blake Griffin. On top of that he would get to TAKE Los Angeles from Kobe Bryant and make himself a God in an organization with a franchise long history of failure.
What a roller coaster its been in MMA. Machida lost his rematch to Shogun, Rampage lost to Rashad and Fedor lost to UFC castoff Fabricio Werdum. First, now that the series is tied at one, there needs to be a third Machida vs. Shogun matchup. Nobody has tagged Machida as much as Shogun and a third fight would be a barnburner. Secondly, Rampage losing to Rashad was disappointing. How do you not account for that speed with small, fast sparring partners? How do you not go for the kill when you had him down and almost out in the third round? Not good. It was also sad to see Chuck Liddell sent into retirement by Rich Franklin. Thanks for the memories and the legacy of great fights Iceman. Thirdly, Fedor lost his first fight in ten years in under two minutes and with it went his aura of invincibility. Ten years of fighting tomato cans has caught up with you. You have one more fight left with Strikeforce then what? Will you retire or man up and go to the UFC where Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez will be waiting? Somewhere Dana White is laughing his head off right now. Want to redeem yourself Fedor? Step into the big leagues and face the best, not has beens.
UFC 116 is going to be off the hook as Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin get it on. Brock has been The Greg One's favorite fighter since crossing over from the WWE and nothing has changed. Hopefully Brock is 100% after his debilitating illness. Regardless my prediction is Brock will emerge victorious on saturday and will continue to rule the heavyweight division for a long time. The pecking order has been established and Brock is the new Tyson. Props to ESPN for adding a MMA themed half hour but lets stop running it over with Baseball Tonight and World Cup coverage. Thank you.
Don't think i've forgotten you World Cup. As much as we'd like to forget you your presence is as annoying as your vuvuzelas. Here in America, there is only one football, no matter how you spell it. Ask the MLS how we feel about soccer. Thankfully, team USA has lost and we can go back to paying attention to things more relevant than you like the NFL offseason, the WNBA, Wimbledon, summer movie blockbusters and why Shaun White was sporting a walking cane at the Guy's Choice Awards. Take your floppers, your magic spray, your crooked refs and go away. Don't bother returning in four years, we'll be busy...washing our hair.