AFC

West: San Diego
North: Pittsburgh
South: Indianapolis
East: New England

Wild Card 1: Baltimore
Wild Card 2: Houston

NFC

East: NY Giants
North: Minnesota
South: Tampa Bay
West: Seattle

Wild Card 1: Arizona
Wild Card 2:  Green Bay

AFC Championship: Indianapolis over San Diego
NFC Championship: Minnesota over NY Giants

Superbowl: San Diego over Philadelphia

NFL Week 1

Ten @ Pitt - Pitt
KC @ Bal - Bal
Phi @ Car - Phi
Min @ Cle - Min
Mia @ Atl - Mia
Det @ NO - NO
Jax @ Ind - Ind
Den @ Cin - Cin
Dal @ TB - Dal
NYJ @ Hou - Hou
StL @ Sea - Sea
Was @ NYG - NYG
SF @ Ari - Ari
Chi @ GB - Chi
Buf @ NE - NE
SD @ Oak - SD

There you have it!  I didn't miss one!  Go Dolphins!

AFC

East: New England
North: Pittsburgh
South: Indianapolis
West: San Diego

Wild Card 1: Baltimore
Wild Card 2: Houston

NFC

East: Philadelphia
North: Chicago
South: Carolina
West: Seattle

Wild Card 1: N.Y. Giants
Wild Card 2:  Minnesota

AFC Championship: San Diego over Pittsburgh
NFC Championship: Philadelphia over Minnesota

Superbowl: San Diego over Philadelphia

Is it too early to start talking about the NFL Draft? HECK NO! So here is my first look at the 2010 draft. The draft order is the same as last year for now... we'll have to adjust that as the season progresses. Let’s get it started... Just 1 round today.

1. Detroit Lions - Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Detroit jumps on the best defensive player, with no LT worthy of this pick they go for Dunlap

2. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Two years now they've passed on a QB, if the Rams are picking this high again it's time to start over.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry, S, Tennesse
Look at the 4 teams in the conference finals last year, all 4 had top end safties.

4. Seattle Seahawks - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Another year of the Walter Jones watch.

5. Cleveland Browns - Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
Browns passing game isn't the same without Winslow, so the bring in talented Benn.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Oline help last year, Dline help this year.

7. Oakland Raiders - Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
They have to take a line men in some draft... don't they?

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Taylor Mays, FS, USC
Their once strong defense is rebuilding.

9. Green Bay Packers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Packers are still converting into a 3-4

10. San Francisco 49ers - Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss
After Alex Smith is moved, the 49ers start all over on offense.

11. Buffalo Bills - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
This is great value for Okung falling out of the top 10.

12. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver) - Sergio Kindle, OLB Texas
Curry and now Kindle the Hawks have an impressive LB core developing

13. Washington Redskins - Ciron Black, OT, LSU
This is a bit of a reach, but the Redskins oline is getting old fast.

14. New Orleans Saints - Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
Continue to add playmakers to that defense

15. Houston Texans - Damian Williams, WR, USC
A legit target opposite Andre Johnson

16. San Diego Chargers - Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
The Bolts love to have depth at the RB position.

17. New York Jets - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Hoping to give Sanchez a weapon.

18. Denver Broncos (From Chicago Bears ) - Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
After passing on Malaluga last year the Broncos have to solidify the defense.

19. Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers - Adam Ulatoski, LT, Texas
The massive Ulatoski should keep Freeman upright

20. Dallas Cowboys - Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
After missing on the top three WRs the Cowboys turn to their other big need.


21. Philadelphia Eagles - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
The Eagles finally got help down the middle.

22. Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings - Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
You can never have to many DTs, if you play in the NFC North!

23. New England Patriots - Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Continuing to add youth to that defense.

24. Atlanta Falcons - Joe Haden, CB, Florida
This could be a fast riser in the next months... Great value here.

25. Miami Dolphins - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Bill Parcells type of player and a position of need, perfect.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
With all Bennett and Mason retiring, or not... time to bring in some fresh players.

27. Indianapolis Colts - George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Freeny is getting older, and the Colts passrush has quietly fallen off.

28. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina) - Navorro Bowman, OLB, Penn State
You just know that Coach Mike is itching to get some LBs

29. New York Giants - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Giants get back to earth, wind, rain, snow, something...

30. Tennesse Titans - Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Just too good to pass up here.

31. Arizona Cardinals - Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State
This team's biggest need is Oline, Hudson would start day one.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Surprised? Don't be. Remember Slash? or Randle EL? This team is creative.

First Round Trades for 2010
Chicago to Denver - Jay Cutler
Denver to Seattle - Alphonso Smith
Carolina to San Francisco - Everette Brown

At lunch today the table next to me was talking about the Denver Broncos… and how excited they are they Jay Cutler wasn’t the QB.  They talked about how they’re not going to route for the Chicago Bears at all, just because of Cutler.  I find that truly amazing…. I don’t know what the perception is around the States, but here in Broncoland… they don’t like Cutler at all!  Maybe since I’m not a Bronco fan, I just don’t see it, but they really don’t like the kid. 
I guess I just don’t see where all this anger is coming from.  It’s not like he ran a dog fighting ring.  He didn’t divide the Bronco's lock room.  He didn’t go out shooting himself at night clubs.  Heck he didn’t even get caught taking drugs.  But here in Broncoland the overall fell is joy that he’s out of town.   Now there are those few fans that aren’t happy, but I find the casual fan or shall I say most fans are happy to see him go.  Ricky Williams got a warmer reception back in Miami after quitting on the Dolphins and being the main reason the team stumbled to a 4 win season. 
Personally I like Cutler, I hope he does great things in Chicago… and I hope the Bronco fans remember that finding a franchise quarterback is the hardest thing to get in the NFL, yes that includes a coach.

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I just don’t understand.  In 2003 there was a massive search, they probed everywhere.  They compiled a list of every player whom they had proof of taking performance enhancing drugs.  It’s now 2009, and we still haven’t seen this list.  Frankly I’m getting tired of these one or two names every 6 months.  It’s ridiculous!  Someone, somewhere find this list and just release it.   I’m a big baseball fan, I follow all the division races, I laugh at the Nationals also… but this is killing the sport for me.  It makes me want to stop watching, it’s becoming apart of baseball.  Which player will be next?  Every time another name comes out its like, does anyone play this game fair?  Of course they do, but it’s a perception thing.  Now we have to go through this whole circus for Manny and Ortiz from their days on the Boston Red Sox.  They’ll have an interview, read a statement…. Take some questions… and then the talk shows for the next two weeks will discuss if they were remorseful enough. 
Finally, when it’s all done… another name will be released!  It’s crazy… 6 years of this.  If the whole list gets released, it would be like one massive blow to the sport.  We’d all be angry, there would be lots of apology press releases, and our heroes would fall.  But then we’d move on, and heal.  Like pulling a band aid off… let’s just get it over with!
Instead with this one name every six months baseball is slowly bleeding to death, this problem of performance enhancing drugs lingers.  It’s always around… I for one am over it.  I just don’t care anymore.  Anyone who hit a lot of home runs took something… and we’ll learn about each and everyone over the next 100 years.  Someone find this list, let’s move on.  There is so much more we should be talking about with Americas past time.

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The recent embarrassing ejection of Carlos Zambrano was a red-flag that “fishing” is getting worse. Unlike the sport Fishing, this term refers to people conducting inappropriate actions in response to controversial calls during a sporting event. Some such “fishing” examples are excessive lobbying or explaining calls, and unnecessary tantrums to get their point across. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with calls from time to time. I am a competitive person and I disagree with some officials from time to time. It becomes a problem when it hits an excessive level. My main concern is with players and coaching staffs, fans will be fans. There are just too many uneducated, biased, and hardheaded fans. I really don’t care about there opinions any more. I just love when a 400 pound guy, that can use his gut as a table, criticizes athletes and officials. Like other unsportsman like acts; fishing has become a problem.

Fishing does show up in a lot of sports. A recent example was an incident that happened in NHL. Martin Brodeur was bumped into by a Carolina player and then seconds later a game winning goal was scored. Brodeur was emotionally upset about the call. Instead of trying to discuss the call in a mature manner; he took the low road and threw and incredibly embarrassing tantrum. Screaming and throwing a stick may get the attention of the refs but it is not going turn back time. I'm sorry Brodeur but you need to stop that puck. If you were focused on the puck and not the contact, then the save would have been made. This is a HUGE deal because professionals are role models. This creates a problem because young goaltenders use Brodeur’s actions as an excuse for their poor behavior in their games." Why can't I make a scene? Marty did it the other night and got away with it." This kind of fishing sets a poor example and demonstrates to young players that this behavior is acceptable.

Players are not the only guilty parties involving fishing acts. Coaches are in the same boat and need to be monitored. Examples are MLB managers. How many times have you seen managers come out and yell at umpires? It happens all the time. This action has become tactical move and is used to get their team and fans motivated or to get the point a across that the umpires are not doing there job. Regardless of the reason, the behavior is inexcusable. If you need to get ejected to get your team motivated; you might need to choose a new day job. Managers being ejected in baseball games means nothing now a days. Ejections have become a part of the baseball culture. In the 2007 season there were around 224 ejections and approximately 104 of those were managers (Really!?) How does a manager like Bobby Cox accumulate 132 ejections in a career? It is getting better but not quite at the level it should be for a pro league. The amount of ejections should be below 20 in a season for the whole league. The best way to correct this type of behavior is to increase suspension from one game to multiple games and hold the whole organization liable for that behavior.

Fishing is embarrassing and never accomplishes anything. It is never productive and it slows the game down. As a former official there is no point to run your mouth. It ticks me off and becomes white noise anyway after awhile. As stated above there needs to be tougher consequences for fishing. The point needs get across that fishing is unacceptable behavior and more people need to be held liable. Referees are human too. "Unless you can do it better; be quiet and let it go."">Help Support Mac Sports and Suds and shop for your sports memorabilia here!

So I've been red hot since the poor showing in the first round.  I even had picked the wings in 5!  I did think however that Cam Ward alone would push Pitt to 6 games...  either way.  The finals are here and it should be a great show.

Stanley Cup Funals
2. Detroit Red Wings vs. 4. Pittsburgh Penguins
The last time there was a rematch of the Cup Finals was 1983 and then 1984.  I do see a lot of similarities.  The great Islanders were 4 time defending champs... basically had been the best team for a while.  Much like the Red Wings of today.  The Oilers had a couple of young superstars really coming into their own in Gretzky and Messier... much like the Penguins of today with Crosby and Malkin.  In 1983, the young Oilers learned a lot from their finals loss and bounced back this year.  I see the same thing happening, unlike the 1984 finals, I think the Wings will not go in 5.  Penguins in 7

I too had a tough first round, but I also got 3 out of 4 in the Second Round. I think it is pretty obvious that we will have a rematch of last year's cup.

Eastern Conference:
4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 6. Carolina Hurricanes
Cam Ward took care of Boston for me which is nice! The Hurricanes have run out of steam. Hopefully the Staal Brothers will give us a bit of Hockey Drama, but Crosby and Malkin are just too much to handle!  Penguins in 5

Western Conference:
2. Detroit Red Wings vs. 8. 4. Chicago Blackhawks
Again I will certainly be rooting for the Hawks!!!!!!!! They continue to surprise me as I did not think they would get by last round! Their young guys are playing with veteran experience but the Red Wings will be way too much for them. The Hawks will make it a series, but unfortunately will not move on.  Red Wings in 6

Well, after getting a poor 5 of 8 correct in the first round, I went 3 for 4 in the second.  But I've got a good feeling about my third round picks.  So let's get to it.

Eastern Conference:
4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 6. Carolina Hurricanes
With Boston being knocked out last round, I think the Eastern Conference Finals was just played between Pitt and Wash.  This isn't the same naive Penguins team we saw last year.  Penguins in 6

Western Conference:
2. Detroit Red Wings vs. 8. 4. Chicago Blackhawks
The Wings avoid a scare from the Ducks and the Hawks look as good as ever!  However I see this hawk's team much like last years Penguins, they're not ready to beat Detroit.  Red Wings in 5

A rematch of last years finals!  Good times.