SuperKuiken

[wh3171]

I have always professed that football with playoff reason and purpose is so much more an advantage that the goal of playing out the season in an effort to win but stay healthy too. Steve Reed Jersey . How can you explain the Philadelphia Eagles battling for an NFC East title and losing to Minnesota when Minnesota does not have either of its starting running backs? How can Dallas, who can only get into the playoffs but end up being dominated in the second half by Green Bay. Cincinnati, who had the opportunity to be the second seed in the AFC playoffs but lose to Pittsburgh 30-20 in a game that was not even close. And New Orleans simply has to beat the Rams and Bucs, not even the Panthers and they win the NFC South yet lose in St. Louis meaning next week in Carolina means everything. Week 15 of NFL football made no sense. Turning it Around In Miami, as an organization the Dolphins took a big step forward in present and future success. The win over New England changed perception of a team that as little as two months ago was considered the derelicts of NFL football. Because it was two months ago that whole Richie Incognito / Jonathan Martin story was everywhere and transitioned into much more: a topic of football conversation became a social and ethical opinion-based topic. Truth is that now with the Dolphins so close to a playoff experience depending on their play and that of Baltimore, the discussion of bringing both players back to the organization has gone from should we to why should we? The more success Miami has, the less likely either player will be a Dolphin again. Falling Apart In Dallas the drama continues. Defensively they just dont have the people to play. Offensively the play in terms of run versus pass is highly criticized and should be. In a game where Dallas had a dominant lead in the second half they ran seven run plays when they had 30 opportunities. And you have a running back of the quality of DeMarco Murray. It really makes no sense. Sure, it will be Tony Romo that takes the heat and part of it is his fault, but only part of it. But when you have a dominant lead your best asset is time, using time to your advantage as if it was another player. The same run the ball or not run the ball problem was evident in the Monday night Chicago Bears game. Remember how well Murray performed early and often? Then Dallas got behind on points by 14 and there was no more DeMarco Murray. The execution of well designed and thought out plays is always the number one priority. But the type of play, run, pass, draw, screen, deep ball, check down and on and on and on have almost equal value. Players win and players lose but the last two weeks the Cowboys offensive decision making has been in a panic and not using patience. Road Production In Washington the numbers were impressive, 29 of 45 for 381 yards is what Kirk Cousins produced on the road in Atlanta. The pessimistic side is relevant. The Falcons do not have a top defence and are eliminated from the playoffs. But the optimistic side is also worth acknowledgment. The game of NFL football is not too big for Kirk Cousins to handle or assimilate. Almost 400 yards is exceptional and 29 completions outstanding. Maybe a bit of a dramatic statement but RG3 has some competition for the job of starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins. Trouble By the Bay In Oakland it is starting to get humiliating. 56 points allowed against a game-managing quarterback of Alex Smiths skills. Screen pass after screen pass for touchdown after touchdown? The Raiders had some moments this year but not enough, still the good news is this. As of next year they should be out of salary cap extreme limitations. $60 million new dollars could and should be available for free agents and present personnel. Truthful concern is that free agency does not guarantee success at all. The Raiders will have a lot of money to work with but will they make the right decisions on the money they invest? Proving His Worth Monday night football, Ravens 18, Lions 16. The one player that really caught my eye was Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. A first-round draft pick in 2011, I thought he played well against the best receiver in football Calvin Johnson. Yes "Calvin the Great" did not have a great day with two clear drops but in the one-on-one competition between Johnson and Smith, Jimmy Smith held his own. Your best evaluation of how good are you comes when you play the very best. It wont get much tougher than what Smith experienced Monday night. Praise for the Coach Finally I thought Jon Gruden brought up a unique possibility of having a challenge call possible on judgment calls such as pass interference. Now I am not in favour of more delays in the flow of NFL football, quite the opposite as the game needs to speed up. But looking at the pass interference penalty that was not called and took away a could-be touchdown pass, maybe its not a bad idea. Only if the challenges remain at two per half and NO more. Please. Football is an advertisers dream but as a fan, its often a viewers nightmare. Keep the games integrity and viability but not at the expense of flow and action. Mark Thompson Jersey . It was just time for him to make a big play. Nicolas Batum had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Wesley Matthews scored 18 points, and the Trail Blazers overcame poor-shooting nights by two of their best players in a 94-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Darren Holmes Jersey . Jeff Carter had two goals and an assist as the Kings stretched their streak to seven wins in a row with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/1154t-eric-young-jersey-rockies.html .Y. -- Major League Soccer has agreed to new measures to protect gay players from discrimination and harassment as a result of meetings with New Yorks attorney general. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas freshman Joel Embiid is entering the NBA draft after a breakthrough season that ended with a stress fracture in his back that kept the 7-footer out of the NCAA tournament. Embiid had been mulling whether to return for his sophomore season for weeks. He said during a news conference Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse that he reached his decision Sunday. "I just want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates, the fans, my mentor, everybody that has helped me through my journey," said Embiid, who was accompanied by coach Bill Self. Embiid, who some believe could go first overall, said he discussed his decision with Self, his family and the Timberwolves Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow Cameroonian who discovered Embiid at one of his camps and helped bring him to the U.S. when he was in high school. "Hakeem Olajuwon called me and I talked to him a little bit. I talked to Luc, my mentor. I talked to Nicolas Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers," Embiid said. "They didnt tell me what to do, they just gave me the advantages and disadvantages." Embiid, who grew up playing soccer and volleyball, only decided to pursue basketball a few years ago. He started to blossom as a senior at The Rock School and ultimately chose to attend Kansas, where he arrived with less fanfare than fellow freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Wayne Selden. In many ways, Embiid out-performed both of them, averaging 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds while blocking 72 shots and earning Big 12 defensive player of the year honours. "I dont think anybody could say Jo was making a poor decision by entering the draft," Self said. "Under almost all circumstances this would be the obvious choice to make. The thing with Jo, what he was weighing was hes still so young in the sport." Still young, period. And that youthful exuberance endeared him to Kansas fans. "I really love this place. The fans are crazy, just watching them before every game," he said. "For me, it means a lot that they showed me nothing but love. Ill miss this place." Embiid hurt his back while landing awkwardly during a game late iin the season, and missed the Jayhawks final two regular-season games and the Big 12 tournament. Colorado Rockies Shirts. He also missed a victory over Eastern Kentucky and a season-ending loss to Stanford in the NCAA tournament, after which he said that he would have been able to play had Kansas advanced to the second weekend. "My back is fine," Embiid said Wednesday. "Im close to being 100 per cent." Even though he is still raw, many projects have Embiid joining Wiggins in going among the first three picks in the June draft. Embiids natural athleticism, court savvy and an ability to hit mid-range jumpers have made scouts salivate all season. "I think its going to be hard. I think Jos in for a fight. But I think its going to be a fun fight," Self said. "The jump from college to the NBA is not quite as easy as what a lot of people portray it to be. Just because youre drafted high doesnt mean youre necessarily ready to play. Jos goal obviously is not only to be drafted high but be a big-time player." Self has already signed two five-star prospects for next season in Kelly Oubre, a talented swingman who should help fill Wiggins shoes, and Cliff Alexander, a 6-foot-8 forward from Chicago and the Naismith high school player of the year. The question now is whether another five-star prospect, Myles Turner, will join them in Lawrence. The 6-11 centre from Euless, Texas, is expected to pick among Kansas, Duke and several other schools, but has said he was waiting on Embiids decision before choosing his school. Alexander tweeted at Turner to sign with Kansas shortly after Embiids announcement. Either way, the newcomers will join a team that returns three starters who helped Kansas win its 10th straight Big 12 title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. "Andrew was easy, because we knew before Andrew got here what the situation more than likely was going to be. Jo, it wasnt quite that," Self said. "What makes it tough is preparing when you dont know that youre going to lose. Weve got good enough players in our program, weve said that all along. Our expectation, our goals wont vary at all." ' ' '