NFL Notebook: The Preseason Curtain Falls

Johnny Sunchips

 As the heat continues to pulsate throughout practice facilities at every teams camp, rookies recite their college fight songs while carrying veterans equipment, some with shaven heads and god knows what else, the battle continues to rage for the chance to represent the shield come September. They all have one thing in common thus far. It's time to line up against someone other than potential teammates. A chance
to prove to on looking owners, general managers and coaches that they are worthy to advance to the second stage of hope. The separation between men and gladiator takes to act

Other news and notes:

Confident Cowboys: Dallas has not played a postseason game since 2009, and since have yet to finish with a record above .500. In fact, they are coming off back to back to back 8-8 campaigns. A team in my opinion that's been laden with talent, but severely under coached. Don't tell the season ticket holders, though! Their reminder came in the mail as in addition to the pre season and regular season package, playoff tickets were included. "It's a convenience for our season ticket holders to have everything in one package" said Cowboys Director of Corporate Communications, Brett Daniels. "It's an evolution to be in the fan friendly. 

They have tickets online and if we clinch a playoff berth they go to the computer and click they want the tickets" "If" is the operative word in the above phrase. Memo to the Cowboys public relations...make the playoffs first!
Talk about expectations...must be nice to be "Americas team"!

Resurgent Raiders: Could this be the year that the silver and black climb out of the depths of oblivion to gain relevance in the NFL. It's been 11 tears since the Raiders have won more than they have lost. The phrase "Just Win Baby" has become "Just Win...One Baby. A "Commitment To Excellence" is now anything but. Horrible
and seemingly unprepared drafting, signing of overpriced and over the hill free agents along with bad management
have rendered the franchise somewhat obscure. But that may change in 2014. QB Matt Schaub has come over from Houston, where the expectations were overwhelming buoyed by a "savior" tag. RB Darren McFadden will be put to the test by a hungry Maurice Jones-Drew. On defense, veterans LaMaar Woodley and Justin Tuck, if healthy, can
bookend a solid defensive line. At DT, Pat Sims and Antonio Smith, left and right respectively, can prove a formidable interior. Is has become commonplace in the NFL for a team to rise from the ashes and make the playoffs. After back to back 4-12 seasons, the Raiders are in a position to do so. It will be a challenge in the tough AFC West with Denver, Kansas City and San Diego. But if they can commit, and execute, perhaps Oakland can "Just Win..."?? 

Here are this weeks matchups.

Thurs. August 7th:
                  Colts at Jets
                  49ers at Ravens
                  Patriots at Washington
                  Bengals at Chiefs
                  Seahawks at Broncos
                  Cowboys at Chargers
Fri. August 8th
                  Dolphins at Falcons
                  Bills at Panthers
                  Buccaneers at Jaguars
                  Eagles at Bears
                  Raiders at Vikings
                  Saints at Rams
Sat. August 9th
                  Browns at Lions
                  Steelers at Giants
                  Packers at Titans
                  Texans at Cardinals 

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Jets Ready to Soar: The New York Jets are coming off an 8-8 season. A year in which many pundits and talking heads alike were realistically predicting a 5-11 season at best. No one , with the exception of the players and coaches in their locker room, thought it would be much different, much less a surprising .500 win percentage. Memo to the AFC East, don't take this team lightly. Safety Calvin Pryor out of Louisville can provide an instant impact in the defensive backfield. He can stick, and a 6"0" and 207 lbs., provides a nice blend of speed and strength.

At number 2 on the depth, he will see significant playing time this season. Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, and Sheldon Richardson provide a solid D line, and the line backing core of David Harris and Calvin Pace will be free to roam. Harris is a tackling monster. On offense, Eric Decker is out to prove he is more than a by product of the Denver system and will give second year qb Geno Smith a middle of the field threat. Look for Michael Vick to bring back the "slash" effect and quite possibly the "wildcat offense" to the Jet playbook. Head Coach Rex Ryan is often maligned here in the New England region by many a fan and "talking head", but he manages to get the most out of his team. At times a bit boisterous, the guy knows his defense and the team he puts out on the field truly believes in him. Four of their first seven games are at home, but weeks 6 and 7 look to be the measuring stick, with 2 games in 4 days, Sun. Oct. 12th vs Denver and Thur. Oct. 16th at New England.

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Johnny Sunchips hosts Psycho Sports Tues 5pm est

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