2012 NFL Week 7 Picks – Football
Sunday, October 21, 2012 7:56
Game picks for the 2012 NFL season Week 7.
NFL Week 7
EDITORS NOTE: The writer hereby pledges not to make any Beaver/vagina jokes even though he wrote several rib-busters culminating with a great spin-off of the June Cleaver classic…Let’s begin…
“THE BEAVER IS OUT!!!…THE BEAVER IS OUT!!!
Those soon to be infamous words were barked out by former Jets defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, prior to a mid-’90s game–the “Beaver” was the Jets stuffed puppet symbol for what was then a bounty system the NFL condoned publicly according to a 1996 ESPN segment:
“[The]…Smash for Cash” program…included $500 payments for big hits. At the time, according to the NFLPA, the NFL said the program was OK “as long as players use their own money, amounts are not exorbitant and payments aren’t for illegal hits.”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/19/smash-for-cash-feature-shows-that-pay-for-performance-was-accepted-in-1996/#commentsˆ
You can find the discussion featuring HOFer and the very Reverend Reggie White, here:
The “bounty system” was league-wide. Any pro football player will tell you, that practice–paying for big hits, turnovers, etc–was/is prevalent in college and high school.
Why?…You ask…Probably because it is not normal or natural to don 20 pounds of equipment and a helmet made of space shuttle-worthy plastic and smash into HGH-enhanced behemoths 65 times a game. To sustain successfully the psychological edge it takes to compete in the mid to upper echelons of American football, players need motivation from coaches, each other, family, friends, clergy, and children.
The ‘bounty’ mentality is part of that reality–ask any football player.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
The recent developments in the Bayou Bounty Fiasco have unfolded fast and furiously in the last week. Here’s a summary:
- Roger Goodell appoints former NFL Commish Paul Tagliabue to oversee the appeals from the suspended players…
- With a straight face, Goodell contends Tagliabue had not been consulted on the matter prior to this week and would have “full authority” and “complete independence to decide the appeal.”
- Ol’ Rog forgot to mention a seemingly salient point. Thankfully, Jonathan Vilma’s counsel, who, unlike Goodell, is a fairly competent lawyer, reminds us “…Commissioner Tagliabue is counsel to the law firm representing Commissioner Goodell in Jonathan’s defamation lawsuit, as well as representing the NFL in Jonathan’s challenge to the entire process in this matter.”
Wait, WTF?
If lawyers are, indeed, sharks, Roger Goodell would be toothless, finless and afraid of deep water.
Knowing the NFL publicly and repeatedly condoned bounties 16 years ago is bad enough; knowing damn good and well that the league has yet to amend the rulebook and outlaw the practice and hasn’t even attempted to do so during the current commissioner’s tenure constitutes gross incompetence. Reacting, as he did, to a situation not much different from the “Smash for Cash” program the league explicitly okayed speaks of ulterior motives–specifically, fear of lawsuits and sponsorship bail outs.
Compounding all that egregious failure on Goodell’s part, the punishment the NFL meted out after the Saints’ behavior was revealed has been based on contradictory statements, sloppily investigated claims and a charge that the NFL, even at this late date, has failed to substantiate: The NFL, with it’s myriad statements, depositions, and corroboration from “outside sources” has never proven the existence of the pay for injury program Roger Goodell alleged in his initial statement on the matter.
A very important fact, given that Goodell’s entire argument hinges on being able to distinguish a pay-for-performance environment–which, we now know, the league has publicly condoned and never outlawed–from a pay-to-injure program which any rational mind summarily condemns.
Here are some other facts–all verifiable–to consider:
- Duke Naiphon, a filmmaker given access to the Saints inner workings claims the infamous recording where Saints DC Greg Williams encourages players to “destroy the head” was an edited or doctored five minute segment of a 15-20 minute defensive meeting.
- Roger Goodell illegally exposed Saints DT Jimmy Kennedy as the whistleblower “who approached former Viking coach Brad Childress about an alleged bounty on Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game.”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/19/jimmy-kennedys-statement-regarding-bounty-case/ - “Illegal” is not an over statement–Goodell could face civil actions for outing Kennedy.
- Suspended and accused Saints players and coaches have yet to confront the evidence or witnesses that led to Goodell’s reaction to the scandal.
LET’S SOLVE THIS
STEP 1: Paul Tagliabue listens to the appeals and reduces all players’ suspensions to one game based on conduct detrimental to the game.
STEP 2: Roger Goodell releases a statement along these lines: “Due to the misinformation, misunderstandings, and convoluted developments in this matter, all coaches and managers involved in the Saints pay-for-performance scandal are hereby fined $25,000.00 for conduct detrimental to the game; all suspensions are rescinded.”
(It would also be peachy if Roger copped to his utter incompetence as a lawyer for the league and took responsibility for overreacting to what should have remained an in-house matter–and, oh yeah… I’m a backstabbing prick for ratting on anyone who may have been a whistleblower.”)
(I’m thinking Roger will decline that course of action.)
STEP 3: All parties involved in the matter agree to drop all claims, counter-claims or other actions against any other party involved in the case.
STEP 4: Goodell–with the full cooperation of the NFLPA and the owners–amends the rulebook to formally outlaw any extracurricular pay-for-performance system of any kind, for any purpose.
STEP 5: For the rest of the season Goodell, the owners, players, refs, agents, and any NFL employee STFU about the Bayou Bounty Debacle.
STEP 6: For the remainder of the year Goodell works to secure an agreement with the NFLPA on monthly HGH testing for all NFL players.
STEP 7: During the same time, Tagliabue secretly negotiates with former players suing the league over concussion effects. The NFL pledges $300 million to pay for retirees’ medical expenses with an additional 1% annual increase based on television and other media revenue.
STEP 8: All current and future players must sign an agreement indemnifying the league for any physical or mental damage caused by playing NFL Football–except for medical expenses the league has agreed to.
STEP 9: After the Super Bowl, Roger Goodell resigns citing personal matters. Tagliabue serves as acting commissioner until a qualified individual is hired to replace him.
STEP 10: Fans like me–a spider’s eyelash away from canceling my Sunday Ticket can enjoy the game the way it was meant to be played.
Anything short of “all of the above” and there is no way Roger Goodell can ever put the Beaver back where it belongs.
Week 7 Picks
Speaking of incompetence…
Last Week: 4 – 10 = .285
Overall Tally: 38 – 51 – 2 = .426
Specials: 10 – 13 – 1 = .434
…If I had to pick my nose, I’d probably break my finger…
GAME OF THE WEEK 0 – 6
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals +1
GOOSE EGG!!! Six weeks into the season…Pathetic…
Cincinnati has yet to find big-boy pants that fit over the long haul–probably due to the growing pains of youth. Last week, sophomore phenom QB Andy Dalton chucked three interceptions and watched an inferior Cleveland team run away with a victory. The Bengal defense we thought would mature into a legitimate force instead plays with the disposition of a chubby house cat.
Of course, that only means the Cats will come out puking flaming fur balls and try to out physical the Steelers.
A dubious strategy in almost every other year of this decade, but the Steeler defenders are either too old to recall regulation NFL contests last four, as in 4, quarters–they’ve given up 40 final stanza points in three losses–or just old.
That facile analysis doesn’t hold up. If their younger defensive starters had made two or three easy plays or played like high-round draft picks should, the Steelers could be undefeated.
The thing is, about 26 other NFL teams can lament that same painful reality.
Forget the injuries, forget the fourth quarter melt downs, the Steelers are desperate and Mike Tomlin has challenged his players and his teams have responded far better than have Marvin Lewis’s have.
We’re giving the Striped Cats the point and praying to all that is powerful for a Steel Resurrection.
STEELERS 31, BENGALS 26
LOCK OF THE WEEK 3 – 3
Green Bay Packers @ St. Louis Rams +5.5
I realize I shouldn’t rankle the handicapping Gods by picking a Lock against a home dog, but the Texans have shown an elite team can whip them. Joe Flacco and the Ravens are more likely to cover against the Lone Stars than Sam Bradford and the Rams will get closer than a touchdown to the resurgent Pack–regardless of where they play the games. This is a legitimate lock.
PACKERS 33, RAMS 14
UPSET SPECIAL 4 – 2
Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts -2.5
If I didn’t have to make this pick, I would skip this Special for Week 7.
Brandon Weeden has intrigued me this year, even more than Andrew Luck. We know the Stanford product will be an elite talent in a short time–but Weeden has the athletic gifts and, if his coaches are right, the intellect to be a top-shelf NFL QB.
Look for Trent Richardson to have a breakout game and the Brownies to break an 11-game road losing streak.
BROWNS 23, COLTS 21
OVER/UNDER OF THE WEEK
Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions +6.5
The last two times I picked the Bears and thought Jay Cutler would firmly achieve an elite level of consistency he flamed out like a rain-drenched Tiki torch.
This game all Cutler has to do is be mediocre and mistake free against a hurting Detroit secondary and the ball-hawking Chicago defense will keep the inconsistent Lions growling in frustration–and the score relatively low.
Besides Detroit’s inconsistency and the 4th-ranked Bears defense, Chicago has owned the Lions in the last few years–and Lovie Smith is 8 – 2 on Monday Nights.
DA BEARS 30, DA LIONS 17
As usual, my picks are in italic below
THURSDAY NIGHT PICK
√ SAN FRANCISCO 13 SEATTLE 6 (+7.5)
NFL Lines For Week 7 – 10/18 – 10/22, 2012
| Favorite | Line | Underdog | Total | |
| 1 1:00 ET | At Buffalo | -3.5 | Tennessee | 46.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | At Minnesota | -6.5 | Arizona | 40.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | At Indianapolis US | -2.5 | Cleveland | 45.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | At Houston | -7 | Baltimore | 48.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | Green Bay LW | -5.5 | At St. Louis | 45.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | Dallas | -2.5 | At Carolina | 45.5 |
| 1 1:00 ET | At NY Giants | -6 | Washington | 51 |
| 1 1:00 ET | New Orleans | -2 | At Tampa Bay | 49.5 |
| 1 4:25 ET | At New England | -10.5 | NY Jets | 47.5 |
| 1 4:25 ET | At Oakland | -6 | Jacksonville | 44 |
| 1 8:30 ET | Pittsburgh GW | -1 | At Cincinnati | 45.5 |
Monday Night Football Line
| 2 8:40 ET | At Chicago O/U | -6.5 | Detroit | 47.5 |
Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, San Diego
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